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The heirs of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a the Dutch artist oil painting was seized by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the painting, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. Just one year later, they were obliged to escape their home in Munich just before the Second World War.

The suit argues that the museum, which obtained the painting in 1956 for $125,000, must have realized it was likely looted property. The heirs are now demanding the repatriation of the canvas along with compensation.

Following World War II, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

The Sterns' Escape

The Sterns departed from their Munich home to the United States in 1936 with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. However, they were unable to bring the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, the regime classified the masterpiece as German cultural property and forbade the Sterns from exporting it. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the regime disposed of the painting on the couple's behalf. However, the money from the transaction were placed in a restricted account, which the authorities later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or soon after, the painting entered the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Later, it was exchanged through a gallery to the Met, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the BEG in 1979, which manages a institution in Athens, Greece where the masterpiece is currently exhibited.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are identified in the suit. The filing states that the Goulandris family and its associated organizations have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and location from the heirs.

Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to obscure how and when the foundation came into possession of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from the mid-1930s; and the facts that the Nazis looted the artwork from the heirs, coerced the Sterns into disposing of it via a trustee, and seized the money of the deal.

Prior Cases

The family filed a similar complaint in the state of California in recently, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also denied in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The lawsuit argues that the Met's purchase of the artwork was approved by a curator, the Met's authority of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the artwork had almost certainly been looted by the regime.

The Met responded that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to address Nazi-era claims.

A representative commented: Never during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any evidence that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – indeed, that data did not become accessible until a long time after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – in particular, it was documented that the piece was deemed to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the similar kind in the inventory. Although The Met upholds its stance that this piece entered the collection and was deaccessioned properly and well within all rules and regulations, the Met is open to and will review any additional details that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron acting for BEG said: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Athens. The action to take legal action against the Foundation and the family in the United States upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are certain it will be once more.