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The family members of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was seized by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

According to the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich just before WWII.

The suit argues that the museum, which purchased the masterpiece in 1956 for a significant sum, must have realized it was almost certainly stolen property. The descendants are now demanding the return of the artwork along with compensation.

In the decades since WWII, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, states the court document.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from their Munich home to California in 1936 with their large family due to Nazi persecution. However, they were unable to bring the artwork, which was created by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the Nazi government classified the artwork as property of the state and prohibited the family from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Third Reich agent, a representative appointed by the authorities auctioned the piece on the family's behalf. Yet, the money from the sale were deposited in a restricted account, which the authorities later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or soon after, the artwork entered the United States and was acquired by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was transferred through a art dealer to the institution, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple founded the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a gallery in Athens where the painting is currently on display.

Legal Arguments

BEG and a family member of Goulandris are named as defendants. The lawsuit claims that the family and its affiliates have covered up the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the family.

Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide how and when the BEG came into possession of the piece; the couple's ownership of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the facts that the regime looted the canvas from the heirs, coerced the Sterns into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the funds of the deal.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants submitted a comparable case in the state of California in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An legal challenge was also rejected in recently.

Institution's Statement

The complaint contends that the museum's acquisition of the painting was approved by a curator, the museum's curator of European art and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had likely been looted by the Nazis.

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

An official remarked: Never during the institution's custody of the painting was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – in fact, that knowledge did not become available until several decades after the painting left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – namely, it was noted that the artwork was considered to be of inferior standard than other pieces of the similar kind in the holdings. While the museum upholds its stance that this piece entered the collection and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all rules and regulations, the Met welcomes and will consider any further evidence that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

A lawyer representing the foundation said: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The action to litigate and defame the institution and the defendants in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are certain it will be a third time.