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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh oil painting was seized by Nazi forces.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern bought the painting, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich, Germany on the eve of the Second World War.

The complaint contends that the museum, which acquired the masterpiece in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was almost certainly looted property. The heirs are now seeking the return of the artwork along with damages.

Since the end of the war, this stolen artwork has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, bought and sold in and through NYC, claims the legal filing.

Family's Flight

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was created by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Before they left, the regime classified the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and banned the couple from exporting it. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a trustee appointed by the regime disposed of the piece on the family's behalf. But, the proceeds from the transaction were deposited in a restricted account, which the regime later took.

Later Transactions

Around 1948, or not long after, the painting entered New York and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the Met, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair set up the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a gallery in Athens where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a living relative of the magnate are identified in the suit. The legal action alleges that the Goulandris family and its related entities have covered up the painting's ownership and location from the family.

Even now, the defendants continue to obscure the circumstances the BEG came into ownership of the piece; the couple's ownership of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the Third Reich stole the canvas from the family, forced the family into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the funds of the deal.

Prior Cases

The family filed a comparable case in California in recently, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also denied in spring 2025.

The Met's Position

The complaint states that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was authorized by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of Old Masters and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the artwork had almost certainly been seized by Nazis.

The museum said in a statement that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to address claims from the Nazi period.

An official remarked: At no time during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any evidence that it had once belonged to the family – indeed, that data did not become accessible until many years after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of the artwork met the Met's guidelines for deaccessioning – namely, it was recorded that the work was considered to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the comparable nature in the inventory. Even though the institution upholds its view that this artwork entered the holdings and was removed lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the institution invites and will examine any further evidence that comes to light.

BEG's Response

A lawyer on behalf of the Goulandris Foundation stated: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The attempt to sue and smear the institution and the Goulandris family in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, multiple times. We are certain it will be once more.