🔗 Share this article Metropolitan Museum Responds to Lawsuit Over Reportedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh Painting The descendants of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against The Met, asserting that a the Dutch artist art piece was stolen by the Third Reich. Case History According to the legal filing, the Stern couple purchased the artwork, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were compelled to leave their home in the German city of Munich prior to the Second World War. The complaint argues that the institution, which acquired the masterpiece in the 1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was likely stolen property. The family are now requesting the restitution of the artwork along with damages. Following World War II, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, purchased and sold in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit. The Sterns' Escape Hedwig and Frederick Stern fled from the city of Munich to America in the late 1930s 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 painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the family from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a trustee designated by the regime auctioned the piece on the couple's behalf. Yet, the money from the sale were deposited in a frozen account, which the Nazis later took. Post-War History In 1948, or shortly after, the artwork arrived in NYC and was bought by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was transferred through a gallery to the Met, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate the magnate and his wife, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972. Basil and Elise founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a institution in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently exhibited. Claims and Defenses The institution and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are identified in the suit. The filing states that the family and its related entities have concealed and disguised the artwork's provenance and whereabouts from the plaintiffs. Even now, the Goulandris Defendants continue to obscure how and when the foundation came into possession of the artwork; the family's possession of the Painting from several years; and the reality that the Third Reich confiscated the artwork from the heirs, forced the family into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the proceeds of the transaction. Previous Legal Action The family initiated a comparable case in the state of California in recently, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also denied in spring 2025. Museum's Response The legal action contends that the institution's buying of the piece was sanctioned by a curator, the museum's curator of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had likely been stolen by the regime. The institution responded that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to handle Nazi-era claims. An official stated: Never during the institution's custody of the painting was there any documentation that it had once belonged to the heirs – in fact, that information did not become available until many years after the painting left the institution's holdings. The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – in particular, it was recorded that the artwork was deemed to be of inferior standard than additional artworks of the same type in the inventory. Even though The Met respectfully stands by its position that this work entered the inventory and was removed lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution invites and will examine any new information that comes to light. Goulandris Statement Legal counsel representing the Goulandris Foundation commented: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The effort to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be a third time.