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The heirs of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was looted by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the painting, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich prior to World War II.

The suit states that the institution, which purchased the artwork in 1956 for $125,000, ought to have been aware it was likely stolen property. The descendants are now seeking the repatriation of the canvas along with financial restitution.

Following the war, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through New York, claims the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family fled from the city of Munich to California in the late 1930s with their large family due to Nazi persecution. However, they were prevented from taking the Van Gogh piece, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Before they left, the regime classified the artwork as German cultural property and forbade the Sterns from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a regime representative, a agent assigned by the Nazis sold the piece on the family's behalf. However, the funds from the auction were deposited in a frozen account, which the regime later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or soon after, the canvas was brought to New York and was purchased by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was transferred through a art dealer to the institution, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple founded the BEG in 1979, which runs a museum in Athens where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

The institution and a surviving nephew of the magnate are identified in the suit. The legal action alleges that the defendants and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the defendants continue to conceal how and when the BEG came into control of the artwork; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from several years; and the facts that the regime looted the Painting from the family, forced the family into disposing of it via a trustee, and seized the proceeds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants filed a similar complaint in California in the year 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An legal challenge was also dismissed in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The legal action argues that the institution's buying of the piece was approved by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the masterpiece had likely been stolen by Nazis.

The Met issued a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to resolve Nazi-era claims.

An official remarked: Never during the museum's possession of the painting was there any evidence that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – actually, that knowledge did not become accessible until several decades after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – namely, it was noted that the work was judged to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the comparable nature in the inventory. Although the museum respectfully stands by its view that this piece entered the collection and was removed properly and well within all standards and procedures, the Met welcomes and will consider any further evidence that emerges.

BEG's Response

Legal counsel on behalf of the Goulandris Foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Greece. The attempt to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are convinced it will be a third time.