The Met Faces Legal Action Over Supposedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Artwork

The descendants of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, asserting that a the Dutch artist oil painting was seized by the Third Reich.

Case History

Per the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the painting, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were obliged to escape their dwelling in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The complaint contends that the museum, which purchased the painting in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now requesting the repatriation of the canvas along with damages.

Since the end of the war, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through NYC, claims the court document.

The Sterns' Escape

The Sterns fled from their Munich home to California in the late 1930s with their large family due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, the regime classified the artwork as a German cultural asset and forbade the Sterns from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a trustee assigned by the authorities disposed of the piece on the family's behalf. Yet, the funds from the sale were deposited in a blocked account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or shortly after, the artwork entered the United States and was acquired by a prominent figure, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was sold through a gallery to the Met, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a institution in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently shown.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a living relative of the magnate are identified in the suit. The legal action states that the defendants and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the family.

Currently, the defendants continue to hide the circumstances the foundation came into possession of the Painting; the family's possession of the masterpiece from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Third Reich stole the artwork from the family, pressured the couple into parting with it via a trustee, and seized the proceeds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs submitted a similar complaint in the state of California in recently, but it was rejected in 2024. An further action was also denied in May 2025.

Museum's Response

The lawsuit contends that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was approved by a curator, the Met's authority of European paintings and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been seized by Nazis.

The Met said in a statement that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to resolve issues related to WWII.

A representative commented: Not once during the museum's possession of the painting was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the family – in fact, that data did not become accessible until several decades after the masterpiece left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for disposal – in particular, it was documented that the artwork was considered to be of inferior standard than additional artworks of the same type in the inventory. While the museum maintains its position that this piece entered the holdings and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the institution invites and will examine any additional details that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron on behalf of BEG said: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The action to take legal action against the institution and the defendants in the United States upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was previously dismissed, twice. We are confident it will be once more.