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The descendants of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a Van Gogh art piece was looted by Nazi forces.

Case History

According to the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were forced to flee their dwelling in Munich prior to World War II.

The legal action contends that the museum, which acquired the artwork in 1956 for a significant sum, should have known it was probably looted property. The family are now seeking the return of the painting along with financial restitution.

Following WWII, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, claims the court document.

Family's Flight

The Sterns escaped from the city of Munich to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were unable to bring the artwork, which was painted by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the regime designated the artwork as property of the state and prohibited the family from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Third Reich agent, a trustee assigned by the regime disposed of the piece on the couple's behalf. However, the funds from the sale were held in a frozen account, which the regime later confiscated.

Later Transactions

By 1948, or soon after, the canvas was brought to New York and was purchased by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was transferred through a gallery to the museum, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate the magnate and his spouse, Elise, in 1972.

Basil and Elise founded the BEG in the late 1970s, which manages a gallery in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently exhibited.

Legal Arguments

The foundation and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The filing states that the Goulandris family and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

To this day, the foundation continue to obscure the circumstances the BEG came into possession of the artwork; the family's possession of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Nazis confiscated the Painting from the family, pressured the Sterns into selling it via a trustee, and seized the money of the sale.

Previous Legal Action

The family initiated a related lawsuit in California in recently, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also rejected in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the artwork was sanctioned by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of Old Masters and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the masterpiece had probably been stolen by Nazis.

The museum responded that it prioritizes its ongoing pledge to handle Nazi-era claims.

An official commented: Not once during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had once belonged to the heirs – actually, that data did not become accessible until many years after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – namely, it was documented that the piece was judged to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the similar kind in the holdings. While the museum respectfully stands by its position that this piece entered the collection and was removed legally and well within all standards and procedures, the Met invites and will examine any new information that emerges.

Goulandris Statement

A lawyer on behalf of BEG commented: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The action to take legal action against the institution and the defendants in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, twice. We are confident it will be again.