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The heirs of a Jewish spouses have filed a lawsuit against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a the Dutch artist oil painting was stolen by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

Per the lawsuit, the Stern couple purchased the painting, titled Olive Picking, in the year 1935. A year after, they were forced to flee their dwelling in Munich prior to WWII.

The complaint states that the museum, which obtained the artwork in the 1950s for $125,000, should have known it was likely stolen property. The heirs are now demanding the repatriation of the artwork along with damages.

In the decades since World War II, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, bought and sold in and through NYC, alleges the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern escaped from their Munich home to America in 1936 with their offspring due to Nazi persecution. However, they were unable to bring the artwork, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Before they left, Nazi authorities declared the artwork as a German cultural asset and forbade the Sterns from exporting it. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the authorities auctioned the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. However, the funds from the auction were placed in a blocked account, which the authorities later took.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or soon after, the canvas was brought to the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was transferred through a art dealer to the museum, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his wife, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise founded the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which manages a museum in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently shown.

Court Allegations

BEG and a living relative of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The legal action claims that the Goulandris family and its related entities have covered up the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the family.

To this day, the defendants continue to obscure the manner and time the institution came into control of the Painting; the couple's ownership of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the regime confiscated the artwork from the heirs, pressured the Sterns into parting with it via a trustee, and took the funds of the deal.

Previous Legal Action

The family initiated a comparable case in California in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The legal action contends that the institution's buying of the piece was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had likely been seized by Nazis.

The institution issued a statement that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to resolve issues related to WWII.

An official stated: Not once during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the heirs – indeed, that knowledge did not become known until many years after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for deaccessioning – namely, it was recorded that the work was considered to be of lower caliber than other works of the comparable nature in the holdings. Even though the museum respectfully stands by its position that this piece entered the holdings and was sold legally and well within all rules and regulations, the Met invites and will examine any further evidence that comes to light.

Foundation's Defense

A lawyer on behalf of BEG stated: The institution is a renowned institution in Greece. The action to take legal action against the Foundation and the defendants in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, multiple times. We are certain it will be once more.