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The heirs of a Jewish couple have brought a case against The Met, asserting that a the Dutch artist art piece was stolen by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

As stated in the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the piece, titled Olive Picking, in the year 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their home in Munich, Germany just before the Second World War.

The legal action argues that the institution, which acquired the masterpiece in 1956 for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was probably stolen property. The descendants are now requesting the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution.

Since the end of the war, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through New York, claims the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family escaped from their Munich home to the United States in 1936 with their six children due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were unable to bring the painting, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, the regime declared the artwork as property of the state and banned the Sterns from bringing it with them. After obtaining permission from a regime representative, a trustee designated by the authorities auctioned the painting on the family's behalf. But, the proceeds from the transaction were held in a restricted account, which the regime later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or not long after, the canvas entered the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was transferred through a art dealer to the museum, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair set up the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a museum in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

The foundation and a surviving nephew of the magnate are identified in the suit. The legal action states that the family and its related entities have hidden and obscured the masterpiece's history and current place from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal how and when the BEG came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the masterpiece from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the regime stole the artwork from the Stern family, forced the couple into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the money of the sale.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs initiated a related lawsuit in California in recently, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also dismissed in recently.

The Met's Position

The legal action states that the Met's purchase of the painting was approved by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the artwork had likely been looted by the regime.

The Met issued a statement that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to handle issues related to WWII.

An official commented: Never during the museum's possession of the piece was there any evidence that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – actually, that information did not become available until several decades after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the institution's rigorous standards for disposal – namely, it was documented that the artwork was considered to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the similar kind in the holdings. While The Met upholds its position that this artwork entered the inventory and was deaccessioned properly and well within all standards and procedures, the institution invites and will examine any new information that is discovered.

BEG's Response

William Charron representing the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in the Greek capital. The effort to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was previously dismissed, twice. We are confident it will be again.