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The heirs of a Jewish couple have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was seized by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

Per the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. A year after, they were obliged to escape their home in Munich just before the Second World War.

The suit argues that the institution, which purchased the artwork in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was likely stolen property. The heirs are now seeking the repatriation of the painting along with damages.

Following WWII, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

Family's Flight

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were unable to bring the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before they left, the regime classified the masterpiece as property of the state and prohibited the couple from taking it abroad. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the authorities disposed of the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. However, the money from the sale were deposited in a restricted account, which the regime later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or not long after, the painting arrived in NYC and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Later, it was sold through a art dealer to the Met, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his wife, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens where the artwork is currently exhibited.

Legal Arguments

BEG and a family member of Goulandris are identified in the suit. The filing claims that the Goulandris family and its associated organizations have covered up the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the family.

To this day, the defendants continue to hide the circumstances the BEG came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the Third Reich looted the canvas from the family, coerced the couple into disposing of it via a regime representative, and seized the funds of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants submitted a similar complaint in CA in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also dismissed in May 2025.

Museum's Response

The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was approved by a curator, the Met's authority of European art and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had likely been seized by the regime.

The Met said in a statement that it prioritizes its historical dedication to address Nazi-era claims.

A spokesperson commented: Never during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any record that it had previously been owned to the heirs – in fact, that information did not become known until many years after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – namely, it was recorded that the work was considered to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the comparable nature in the holdings. Although The Met maintains its stance that this piece entered the holdings and was deaccessioned properly and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum welcomes and will consider any new information that emerges.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron representing BEG commented: The institution is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The attempt to sue and smear the organization and the defendants in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be again.