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The descendants of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was looted by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

Per the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in the year 1935. The following year, they were obliged to escape their residence in Munich on the eve of World War II.

The suit contends that the Met, which obtained the masterpiece in 1956 for a significant sum, should have known it was likely confiscated property. The heirs are now demanding the repatriation of the canvas along with financial restitution.

Following the war, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, claims the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns departed from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Prior to their departure, the Nazi government classified the masterpiece as German cultural property and forbade the family from exporting it. After obtaining permission from a Nazi official, a trustee designated by the Nazis sold the artwork on the family's behalf. But, the proceeds from the transaction were placed in a restricted account, which the Nazis later took.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or shortly after, the painting arrived in New York and was purchased by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was exchanged through a gallery to the Met, which then sold it to prominent shipowner Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in 1972.

Basil and Elise established the BEG in 1979, which runs a gallery in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently exhibited.

Court Allegations

The institution and a living relative of Goulandris are named as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants and its associated organizations have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the defendants continue to conceal the manner and time the institution came into possession of the piece; the couple's ownership of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the regime confiscated the artwork from the heirs, pressured the Sterns into selling it via a regime representative, and seized the money of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs filed a comparable case in CA in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An further action was also dismissed in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the Met's authority of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the Painting had almost certainly been stolen by Nazis.

The museum issued a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to address Nazi-era claims.

A spokesperson commented: Never during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any documentation that it had once belonged to the heirs – in fact, that data did not become accessible until a long time after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – in particular, it was recorded that the piece was considered to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the similar kind in the inventory. Although The Met upholds its position that this piece entered the inventory and was deaccessioned properly and well within all rules and regulations, the institution welcomes and will consider any further evidence that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron representing the foundation commented: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The attempt to sue and smear the organization and the family in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, multiple times. We are certain it will be a third time.