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The descendants of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was seized by Nazi forces.

Case History

According to the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their home in Munich prior to WWII.

The complaint contends that the museum, which purchased the painting in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was probably stolen property. The heirs are now demanding the restitution of the artwork along with damages.

Following World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the court document.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family departed from Munich to California in the late 1930s with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities designated the masterpiece as German cultural property and banned the family from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a trustee designated by the regime sold the piece on the couple's behalf. But, the funds from the auction were deposited in a frozen account, which the regime later took.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or not long after, the painting entered the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was exchanged through a gallery to the museum, which then passed it on to prominent shipowner Goulandris and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise established the BEG in the late 1970s, which operates a museum in Athens where the painting is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

The foundation and a living relative of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action claims that the family and its related entities have covered up the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the foundation continue to hide how and when the BEG came into ownership of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Nazis looted the Painting from the Stern family, forced the Sterns into parting with it via a trustee, and seized the money of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs filed a related lawsuit in California in recently, but it was rejected in 2024. An further action was also rejected in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The lawsuit argues that the institution's buying of the painting was sanctioned by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the Painting had likely been stolen by the Nazis.

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

A representative stated: Never during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – in fact, that knowledge did not become available until many years after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of the artwork met the institution's rigorous standards for deaccessioning – namely, it was recorded that the piece was deemed to be of lesser quality than other works of the similar kind in the collection. Although The Met respectfully stands by its view that this work entered the inventory and was removed properly and well within all standards and procedures, the museum invites and will examine any additional details that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

A lawyer representing the Goulandris Foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The effort to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, twice. We are convinced it will be again.