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The family members of a Jewish couple have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Van Gogh canvas was stolen by the Nazis.

Case History

According to the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were obliged to escape their dwelling in Munich prior to the Second World War.

The complaint contends that the Met, which obtained the painting in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was likely confiscated property. The descendants are now seeking the repatriation of the painting along with compensation.

In the decades since World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, alleges the legal filing.

Family's Flight

The Stern family escaped from Munich to California in the late 1930s with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the painting, which was painted by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before they left, Nazi authorities declared the artwork as German cultural property and forbade the Sterns from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Nazi official, a agent appointed by the authorities disposed of the artwork on the couple's behalf. However, the proceeds from the transaction were held in a blocked account, which the authorities later took.

Subsequent Ownership

By 1948, or shortly after, the artwork was brought to New York and was acquired by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the museum, which then sold it to prominent shipowner Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in the early 1970s.

The Greek couple established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which manages a institution in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently on display.

Court Allegations

BEG and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action alleges that the family and its related entities have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the family.

Currently, the foundation continue to hide the circumstances the institution came into possession of the piece; the family's possession of the masterpiece from several years; and the truth that the regime stole the Painting from the heirs, pressured the family into parting with it via a trustee, and took the proceeds of the deal.

Prior Cases

The family submitted a related lawsuit in California in recently, but it was dismissed in 2024. An legal challenge was also rejected in May 2025.

Institution's Statement

The legal action argues that the institution's buying of the piece was sanctioned by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi-era looted art. The curator and the museum must have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been stolen by Nazis.

The Met issued a statement that it prioritizes its longstanding commitment to handle Nazi-era claims.

A spokesperson remarked: Never during the museum's possession of the painting was there any record that it had once belonged to the heirs – actually, that information did not become available until a long time after the painting left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the institution's rigorous standards for disposal – namely, it was noted that the work was deemed to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the similar kind in the holdings. While The Met maintains its stance that this work entered the collection and was removed legally and well within all standards and procedures, the museum invites and will examine any new information that is discovered.

Foundation's Defense

A lawyer on behalf of the foundation stated: The institution is a renowned institution in Athens. The effort to sue and smear the institution and the defendants in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, on two occasions. We are certain it will be again.