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The family members of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against The Met, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh oil painting was looted by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

Per the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their residence in Munich just before the Second World War.

The legal action contends that the museum, which purchased the masterpiece in the mid-1950s for $125,000, ought to have been aware it was almost certainly stolen property. The family are now demanding the restitution of the artwork along with financial restitution.

In the decades since World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, bought and sold in and through the city of New York, claims the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to America in 1936 with their large family due to the oppressive Nazi regime. However, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was produced by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, the regime declared the painting as property of the state and banned the Sterns from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a regime representative, a representative appointed by the Nazis sold the artwork on the couple's behalf. But, the funds from the auction were deposited in a restricted account, which the authorities later seized.

Post-War History

In 1948, or not long after, the canvas arrived in NYC and was purchased by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was transferred through a gallery to the institution, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

Basil and Elise established the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a museum in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently shown.

Court Allegations

BEG and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The filing alleges that the defendants and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the artwork's provenance and location from the heirs.

Currently, the foundation continue to hide the manner and time the foundation came into ownership of the piece; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from the mid-1930s; and the reality that the Nazis looted the canvas from the family, forced the family into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the proceeds of the sale.

Prior Cases

The descendants initiated a similar complaint in California in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An further action was also dismissed in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The legal action contends that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was sanctioned by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been looted by the Nazis.

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

A spokesperson remarked: Not once during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any record that it had previously been owned to the family – indeed, that knowledge did not become accessible until many years after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for deaccessioning – specifically, it was noted that the piece was considered to be of lower caliber than other works of the similar kind in the inventory. While the museum respectfully stands by its position that this artwork entered the inventory and was deaccessioned legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the Met is open to and will review any additional details that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron representing the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in Athens. The effort to sue and smear the Foundation and the family in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are certain it will be a third time.