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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a Van Gogh art piece was looted by Nazi forces.

Case History

As stated in the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were compelled to leave their residence in the German city of Munich just before the Second World War.

The suit contends that the museum, which obtained the masterpiece in the mid-1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was likely confiscated property. The descendants are now demanding the restitution of the canvas along with compensation.

Since the end of the war, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through NYC, claims the lawsuit.

The Sterns' Escape

The Stern family departed from their Munich home to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were unable to bring the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before they left, Nazi authorities classified the painting as German cultural property and banned the Sterns from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a representative appointed by the authorities disposed of the piece on the family's behalf. However, the money from the sale were placed in a restricted account, which the Nazis later seized.

Post-War History

By 1948, or not long after, the painting arrived in the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was sold through a gallery to the museum, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his partner, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair established the BEG in 1979, which manages a institution in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

The foundation and a living relative of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action states that the family and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.

Even now, the foundation continue to obscure the circumstances the institution came into possession of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the truth that the Third Reich stole the Painting from the family, forced the Sterns into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the money of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The family submitted a comparable case in CA in the year 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The complaint argues that the Met's purchase of the piece was authorized by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been looted by the regime.

The museum responded that it is committed to its ongoing pledge to handle claims from the Nazi period.

A representative remarked: Not once during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the Stern family – indeed, that information did not become known until many years after the artwork left the institution's holdings.

The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – in particular, it was noted that the piece was judged to be of inferior standard than other works of the same type in the holdings. While the museum upholds its stance that this work entered the inventory and was sold lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the Met welcomes and will consider any additional details that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel representing the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The effort to sue and smear the organization and the Goulandris family in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, multiple times. We are certain it will be once more.