🔗 Share this article The Met Faces Lawsuit Over Reportedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh Masterpiece The descendants of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh oil painting was stolen by Nazi forces. Case History According to the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were obliged to escape their dwelling in Munich just before the Second World War. The suit states that the Met, which obtained the painting in the mid-1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now requesting the repatriation of the artwork along with compensation. Since the end of the war, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, bought and sold in and through New York, alleges the lawsuit. The Sterns' Escape Hedwig and Frederick Stern escaped from Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were unable to bring the artwork, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in 1889. Prior to their departure, the regime designated the painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the Sterns from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a trustee appointed by the authorities disposed of the painting on the couple's behalf. However, the proceeds from the sale were placed in a blocked account, which the Nazis later seized. Subsequent Ownership In 1948, or shortly after, the canvas entered NYC and was purchased by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was transferred through a art dealer to the institution, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his partner, Elise, in 1972. The Goulandris pair founded the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a institution in Athens, Greece where the masterpiece is currently shown. Claims and Defenses BEG and a living relative of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action claims that the defendants and its related entities have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and current place from the heirs. Even now, the defendants continue to obscure the circumstances the foundation came into possession of the piece; the couple's ownership of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the regime stole the Painting from the heirs, forced the family into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the money of the transaction. Previous Legal Action The descendants submitted a related lawsuit in the state of California in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in spring 2025. The Met's Position The lawsuit states that the Met's purchase of the piece was authorized by a curator, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi-era looted art. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the masterpiece had likely been seized by Nazis. The institution responded that it takes seriously its historical dedication to resolve Nazi-era claims. A spokesperson commented: At no time during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any evidence that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – actually, that knowledge did not become known until a long time after the artwork left the institution's holdings. The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the Met's guidelines for disposal – specifically, it was noted that the piece was considered to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the similar kind in the holdings. While The Met maintains its view that this work entered the holdings and was deaccessioned properly and well within all standards and procedures, the institution welcomes and will consider any new information that emerges. BEG's Response Legal counsel on behalf of BEG said: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Athens. The attempt to sue and smear the organization and the Goulandris family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are certain it will be a third time.