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The family members of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was looted by Nazi forces.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the painting, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. The following year, they were compelled to leave their residence in Munich, Germany on the eve of World War II.

The legal action contends that the museum, which purchased the masterpiece in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now demanding the repatriation of the artwork along with compensation.

Since the end of World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, states the lawsuit.

Family's Flight

The Sterns escaped from Munich to America in the late 1930s with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. However, they were barred from transporting the Van Gogh piece, which was produced by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the regime designated the artwork as a German cultural asset and banned the couple from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a agent designated by the regime sold the painting on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the sale were held in a blocked account, which the regime later took.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or shortly after, the painting was brought to NYC and was purchased by Vincent Astor, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a gallery to the Met, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his spouse, Elise, in 1972.

The Greek couple founded the BEG in 1979, which runs a museum in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently on display.

Court Allegations

The institution and a living relative of Goulandris are identified in the suit. The lawsuit alleges that the family and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the artwork's provenance and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the defendants continue to hide the manner and time the foundation came into control of the artwork; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Nazis confiscated the Painting from the family, pressured the couple into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the money of the sale.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants filed a similar complaint in CA in recently, but it was rejected in the following years. An further action was also denied in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The legal action argues that the museum's acquisition of the piece was sanctioned by the museum's expert, the museum's curator 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 artwork had almost certainly been seized by the regime.

The museum said in a statement that it prioritizes its longstanding commitment to address claims from the Nazi period.

A spokesperson remarked: At no time during the museum's possession of the painting was there any documentation that it had once belonged to the family – indeed, that data did not become available until a long time after the masterpiece left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for deaccessioning – specifically, it was noted that the piece was considered to be of inferior standard than other works of the similar kind in the collection. While the institution respectfully stands by its view that this work entered the holdings and was removed lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution is open to and will review any further evidence that emerges.

Foundation's Defense

William Charron on behalf of the foundation commented: The institution is a renowned institution in Greece. The attempt to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the US upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was earlier rejected, twice. We are convinced it will be again.