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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have filed a lawsuit against The Met, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was looted by the Third Reich.

Case History

According to the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the painting, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in Munich prior to the Second World War.

The complaint contends that the Met, which purchased the painting in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was probably stolen property. The descendants are now seeking the repatriation of the artwork along with compensation.

Since the end of WWII, this Nazi-looted painting has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, bought and sold in and through NYC, alleges the court document.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns escaped from their Munich home to America in the late 1930s with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Before they left, the Nazi government designated the masterpiece as property of the state and prohibited the couple from taking it abroad. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative appointed by the regime auctioned the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. But, the funds from the sale were held in a blocked account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Post-War History

By 1948, or soon after, the artwork arrived in NYC and was purchased by a prominent figure, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was sold through a art dealer to the institution, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate the magnate and his partner, Elise, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair set up the BEG in the late 1970s, which operates a gallery in Athens where the artwork is currently exhibited.

Court Allegations

The institution and a family member of the magnate are named as defendants. The legal action alleges that the family and its related entities have covered up the masterpiece's history and location from the plaintiffs.

To this day, the foundation continue to hide how and when the BEG came into control of the Painting; the couple's ownership of the artwork from several years; and the reality that the regime stole the artwork from the family, coerced the Sterns into parting with it via a regime representative, and seized the proceeds of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family submitted a similar complaint in California in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in recently.

Museum's Response

The complaint states that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by a curator, the institution's specialist of European art and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been seized by the Nazis.

The Met said in a statement that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to address Nazi-era claims.

An official commented: Not once during the museum's possession of the painting was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – indeed, that data did not become accessible until several decades after the painting left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – in particular, it was documented that the piece was judged to be of lower caliber than other works of the same type in the holdings. Although the museum upholds its view that this piece entered the holdings and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the museum is open to and will review any further evidence that comes to light.

BEG's Response

William Charron on behalf of the Goulandris Foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The attempt to take legal action against the institution and the family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be again.