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The heirs of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a Van Gogh oil painting was seized by the Nazis.

Historical Background

Per the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the painting, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich, Germany on the eve of WWII.

The legal action argues that the institution, which acquired the masterpiece in 1956 for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was almost certainly confiscated property. The family are now requesting the return of the canvas along with damages.

In the decades since the war, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, bought and sold in and through New York, alleges the court document.

Family's Flight

The Sterns fled from the city of Munich to America in the late 1930s with their offspring due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Before they left, the Nazi government designated the artwork as German cultural property and forbade the couple from taking it abroad. Once approved from a Nazi official, a trustee designated by the Nazis auctioned the painting on the Sterns' behalf. But, the funds from the sale were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or shortly after, the painting arrived in the United States and was acquired by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was sold through a gallery to the institution, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in 1972.

Basil and Elise established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a gallery in the Greek capital where the painting is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

BEG and a family member of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action states that the family and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the heirs.

To this day, the foundation continue to obscure how and when the foundation came into ownership of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Nazis looted the canvas from the heirs, coerced the Sterns into parting with it via a regime representative, and took the funds of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants submitted a comparable case in the state of California in 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An legal challenge was also denied in May 2025.

Museum's Response

The complaint states that the Met's purchase of the artwork was approved by a curator, the museum's curator of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had almost certainly been looted by the Nazis.

The institution said in a statement that it prioritizes its longstanding commitment to handle issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson stated: Not once during the institution's custody of the painting was there any evidence that it had once belonged to the family – actually, that information did not become available until a long time after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for deaccessioning – specifically, it was noted that the artwork was considered to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the comparable nature in the holdings. While the institution respectfully stands by its stance that this work entered the holdings and was sold properly and well within all rules and regulations, the Met invites and will examine any further evidence that comes to light.

Foundation's Defense

Legal counsel representing the Goulandris Foundation said: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in Athens. The effort to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be again.