The descendants of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Van Gogh canvas was stolen by the Third Reich.
Case History
As stated in the court documents, the Stern couple purchased the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. The following year, they were forced to flee their home in Munich on the eve of WWII.
The legal action contends that the museum, which obtained the artwork in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was likely looted property. The descendants are now demanding the restitution of the painting along with damages.
Since the end of the war, this Nazi-looted painting has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, acquired and disposed of in and through the city of New York, alleges the court document.
Family's Flight
The Stern family escaped from their Munich home to America in 1936 with their offspring due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.
Before they left, Nazi authorities classified the painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the couple from exporting it. Following authorization from a regime representative, a trustee designated by the regime auctioned the painting on the couple's behalf. However, the money from the transaction were placed in a blocked account, which the Nazis later confiscated.
Post-War History
By 1948, or soon after, the painting was brought to the United States and was bought by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the institution, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his wife, Mrs. Goulandris, in the early 1970s.
The Goulandris pair established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which manages a gallery in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently on display.
Claims and Defenses
The foundation and a family member of the magnate are identified in the suit. The filing alleges that the Goulandris family and its affiliates have covered up the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.
Even now, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide the manner and time the institution came into ownership of the artwork; the family's possession of the artwork from several years; and the truth that the Third Reich confiscated the canvas from the Stern family, pressured the couple into parting with it via a regime representative, and confiscated the funds of the deal.
Prior Cases
The Stern heirs submitted a related lawsuit in California in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An further action was also rejected in spring 2025.
Museum's Response
The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European art and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert were aware or ought to have been aware that the artwork had likely been stolen by Nazis.
The Met said in a statement that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to address issues related to WWII.
An official commented: Never during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – actually, that data did not become accessible until a long time after the masterpiece left the Met's possession.
The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – in particular, it was recorded that the work was judged to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the comparable nature in the holdings. While the museum respectfully stands by its position that this work entered the inventory and was sold properly and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum is open to and will review any further evidence that is discovered.
Foundation's Defense
William Charron on behalf of the foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Athens. The action to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the US upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are certain it will be a third time.
