New York's Met Museum Faces Legal Challenge Over Reportedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Artwork

The heirs of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against The Met, alleging that a the Dutch artist canvas was stolen by the Third Reich.

Historical Background

Per the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were forced to flee their home in Munich, Germany just before WWII.

The legal action argues that the museum, which acquired the painting in 1956 for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was almost certainly stolen property. The descendants are now requesting the return of the painting along with financial restitution.

Following the war, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, claims the court document.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family fled from their Munich home to California in 1936 with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the artwork, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities designated the artwork as German cultural property and prohibited the couple from bringing it with them. After obtaining permission from a Third Reich agent, a agent designated by the authorities disposed of the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the money from the transaction were held in a frozen account, which the regime later confiscated.

Post-War History

By 1948, or not long after, the artwork arrived in NYC and was purchased by a prominent figure, a member of the Astor family. Later, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the museum, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the BEG in 1979, which runs a gallery in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

The foundation and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action claims that the Goulandris family and its associated organizations have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and location from the heirs.

To this day, the foundation continue to conceal how and when the foundation came into ownership of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the truth that the Third Reich stole the Painting from the family, coerced the couple into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the proceeds of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family initiated a similar complaint in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also dismissed in spring 2025.

The Met's Position

The legal action argues that the institution's buying of the piece was approved by a curator, the Met's authority of Old Masters and a leading authority on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had probably been seized by the regime.

The museum responded that it is committed to its ongoing pledge to resolve issues related to WWII.

An official stated: At no time during the institution's custody of the painting was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the Stern family – in fact, that information did not become known until a long time after the painting left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for deaccessioning – namely, it was noted that the artwork was considered to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the comparable nature in the inventory. Even though The Met respectfully stands by its stance that this piece entered the inventory and was removed properly and well within all standards and procedures, the museum welcomes and will consider any further evidence that emerges.

BEG's Response

William Charron on behalf of the Goulandris Foundation said: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The action to litigate and defame the organization and the family in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, on two occasions. We are confident it will be a third time.