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The heirs of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, asserting that a the Dutch artist canvas was looted by Nazi forces.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the painting, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their dwelling in Munich prior to World War II.

The complaint contends that the museum, which purchased the painting in 1956 for $125,000, ought to have been aware it was likely confiscated property. The family are now requesting the restitution of the artwork along with compensation.

Since the end of the war, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through New York, alleges the court document.

Family's Flight

The Stern family departed from Munich to California in 1936 with their six children due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the Van Gogh piece, which was painted by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before they left, the regime classified the artwork as property of the state and banned the couple from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Nazi official, a agent designated by the Nazis disposed of the piece on the family's behalf. Yet, the money from the transaction were held in a blocked account, which the Nazis later took.

Post-War History

By 1948, or shortly after, the canvas was brought to the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was sold through a art dealer to the Met, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in 1972.

The Greek couple established the BEG in 1979, which manages a museum in Athens where the painting is currently shown.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The filing claims that the defendants and its associated organizations have hidden and obscured the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the family.

Even now, the defendants continue to hide how and when the foundation came into ownership of the Painting; the family's possession of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the regime confiscated the Painting from the family, coerced the couple into selling it via a regime representative, and took the proceeds of the deal.

Prior Cases

The descendants submitted a similar complaint in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in the following years. An legal challenge was also rejected in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The legal action states that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had probably been looted by Nazis.

The institution responded that it takes seriously its historical dedication to handle issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson remarked: Not once during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any record that it had previously been owned to the heirs – in fact, that knowledge did not become accessible until several decades after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the Met's guidelines for deaccessioning – namely, it was recorded that the piece was considered to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the same type in the holdings. Although the institution respectfully stands by its view that this piece entered the inventory and was removed legally and well within all rules and regulations, the Met invites and will examine any new information that is discovered.

Foundation's Defense

William Charron representing BEG stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in Athens. The attempt to litigate and defame the institution and the Goulandris family in the United States upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was previously dismissed, multiple times. We are certain it will be once more.