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The heirs of a Jewish pair have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, alleging that a the Dutch artist canvas was seized by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the painting, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. The following year, they were compelled to leave their residence in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The complaint states that the institution, which obtained the artwork in 1956 for $125,000, ought to have been aware it was likely stolen property. The family are now requesting the restitution of the painting along with damages.

Since the end of World War II, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, alleges the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were prevented from taking the Van Gogh piece, which was produced by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before they left, Nazi authorities designated the masterpiece as property of the state and forbade the Sterns from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a trustee designated by the Nazis auctioned the piece on the family's behalf. Yet, the funds from the transaction were held in a frozen account, which the regime later took.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or not long after, the canvas was brought to the United States and was bought by Vincent Astor, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the museum, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his wife, Mrs. Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

The Greek couple established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens where the artwork is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

The institution and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The filing claims that the family and its related entities have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the foundation continue to obscure the manner and time the BEG came into control of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the Painting from several years; and the truth that the Nazis confiscated the artwork from the family, coerced the Sterns into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the funds of the transaction.

Prior Cases

The descendants submitted a similar complaint in the state of California in recently, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also dismissed in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The legal action contends that the institution's buying of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum must have known that the artwork had almost certainly been looted by the regime.

The institution said in a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to resolve issues related to WWII.

A representative remarked: Not once during the institution's custody of the painting was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the family – indeed, that knowledge did not become accessible until a long time after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for disposal – in particular, it was recorded that the piece was deemed to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the comparable nature in the holdings. Although the institution maintains its view that this piece entered the collection and was sold properly and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum welcomes and will consider any further evidence that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

A lawyer representing BEG said: The institution is a highly prestigious organization in Athens. The attempt to litigate and defame the institution and the Goulandris family in the US upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are certain it will be again.