The Met Responds to Legal Action Over Allegedly Nazi-Stolen Van Gogh Artwork

The heirs of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was stolen by Nazi forces.

Case History

As stated in the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the painting, titled Gathering Olives, in the year 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The suit argues that the museum, which obtained the artwork in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was almost certainly confiscated property. The heirs are now demanding the return of the artwork along with financial restitution.

Following WWII, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, alleges the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns departed from their Munich home to the United States in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was painted by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities designated the artwork as a German cultural asset and prohibited the family from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Third Reich agent, a representative appointed by the authorities sold the painting on the Sterns' behalf. However, the money from the transaction were placed in a restricted account, which the regime later confiscated.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or soon after, the artwork was brought to New York and was acquired by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was sold through a gallery to the museum, which then sold it to prominent shipowner the magnate and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the BEG in 1979, which operates a institution in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

The foundation and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The legal action states that the defendants and its related entities have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.

Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal how and when the foundation came into control of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the reality that the Third Reich looted the artwork from the family, pressured the family into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the money of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs submitted a comparable case in CA in 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An appeal was also denied in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The complaint argues that the institution's buying of the artwork was approved by the museum's expert, the museum's curator of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the artwork had almost certainly been looted by the Nazis.

The museum said in a statement that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to resolve issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson stated: Never during the institution's custody of the painting was there any documentation that it had once belonged to the Stern family – actually, that information did not become accessible until many years after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – namely, it was recorded that the artwork was judged to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the same type in the collection. Even though the institution maintains its position that this artwork entered the inventory and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum is open to and will review any additional details that emerges.

BEG's Response

William Charron representing the Goulandris Foundation said: The institution is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the Foundation and the family in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be again.