New York's Met Museum Confronts Legal Challenge Over Allegedly Nazi-Stolen Van Gogh Masterpiece
The family members of a Jewish couple have brought a case against The Met, claiming that a Van Gogh canvas was stolen by the Nazis.
Origins of the Dispute
Per the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern bought the piece, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. The following year, they were obliged to escape their residence in the German city of Munich just before WWII.
The complaint states that the museum, which acquired the artwork in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was likely confiscated property. The family are now requesting the restitution of the painting along with compensation.
Since the end of World War II, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the legal filing.
Family's Flight
The Stern family departed from their Munich home to the United States in the late 1930s with their offspring due to Nazi persecution. However, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was produced by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century.
Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities designated the painting as German cultural property and prohibited the Sterns from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Nazi official, a trustee designated by the Nazis auctioned the piece on the family's behalf. However, the proceeds from the transaction were deposited in a blocked account, which the Nazis later took.
Later Transactions
In 1948, or not long after, the artwork entered NYC and was acquired by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the institution, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.
The Goulandris pair founded the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a gallery in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently exhibited.
Claims and Defenses
The foundation and a living relative of the magnate are named as defendants. The legal action claims that the defendants and its related entities have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and location from the family.
Currently, the defendants continue to conceal how and when the foundation came into ownership of the artwork; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the regime looted the canvas from the family, forced the family into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the money of the deal.
Previous Legal Action
The family initiated a related lawsuit in CA in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in the following years. An appeal was also denied in spring 2025.
Institution's Statement
The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European paintings and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi-era looted art. The institution and its expert must have known that the masterpiece had probably been seized by Nazis.
The Met issued a statement that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to address Nazi-era claims.
A spokesperson remarked: Not once during the institution's custody of the painting was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the Stern family – indeed, that data did not become available until a long time after the painting left the Met's possession.
The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – specifically, it was recorded that the artwork was deemed to be of lesser quality than other works of the similar kind in the holdings. Even though the institution maintains its position that this piece entered the collection and was sold lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the Met welcomes and will consider any additional details that comes to light.
Goulandris Statement
William Charron on behalf of BEG commented: The institution is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the Foundation and the Goulandris family in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, twice. We are convinced it will be a third time.
