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The heirs of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was stolen by the Nazis.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern bought the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their residence in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The legal action states that the museum, which purchased the masterpiece in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was likely looted property. The descendants are now seeking the repatriation of the canvas along with financial restitution.

Since the end of World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through New York, claims the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was produced by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities declared the painting as German cultural property and banned the couple from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Nazi official, a representative assigned by the authorities disposed of the piece on the couple's behalf. But, the money from the auction were held in a blocked account, which the Nazis later took.

Post-War History

By 1948, or shortly after, the artwork was brought to the United States and was purchased by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was transferred through a art dealer to the museum, which then passed it on to prominent shipowner Goulandris and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair founded the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a gallery in the Greek capital where the painting is currently shown.

Court Allegations

BEG and a family member of the magnate are named as defendants. The legal action states that the family and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the artwork's provenance and current place from the family.

Even now, the defendants continue to conceal how and when the foundation came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the masterpiece from several years; and the facts that the Nazis stole the artwork from the heirs, coerced the Sterns into disposing of it via a trustee, and seized the funds of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs initiated a comparable case in California in recently, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also rejected in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The complaint contends that the museum's acquisition of the painting was approved by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of European art and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had likely been looted by the regime.

The Met responded that it prioritizes its historical dedication to address Nazi-era claims.

An official commented: At no time during the museum's possession of the painting was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the heirs – actually, that information did not become known until several decades after the artwork left the institution's holdings.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for deaccessioning – in particular, it was noted that the piece was considered to be of inferior standard than other works of the similar kind in the inventory. Even though the institution upholds its position that this piece entered the holdings and was removed lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the institution invites and will examine any additional details that comes to light.

Foundation's Defense

Legal counsel on behalf of the foundation stated: The institution is a renowned institution in Greece. The effort to sue and smear the institution and the Goulandris family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, multiple times. We are certain it will be again.