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The heirs of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was stolen by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

According to the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in the year 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich just before the Second World War.

The complaint argues that the institution, which purchased the painting in 1956 for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was likely looted property. The family are now seeking the repatriation of the canvas along with damages.

Following World War II, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, purchased and sold in and through NYC, claims the lawsuit.

The Sterns' Escape

Hedwig and Frederick Stern escaped from Munich to the United States in 1936 with their offspring due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was created by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Before they left, the Nazi government classified the masterpiece as property of the state and forbade the family from bringing it with them. Once approved from a regime representative, a representative appointed by the regime sold the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the transaction were placed in a frozen account, which the authorities later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or shortly after, the artwork arrived in NYC and was bought by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was transferred through a art dealer to the Met, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman Goulandris and his wife, Mrs. Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

Basil and Elise established the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a institution in Athens where the artwork is currently exhibited.

Legal Arguments

BEG and a living relative of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action alleges that the defendants and its associated organizations have covered up the painting's ownership and current place from the heirs.

To this day, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide the circumstances the institution came into ownership of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the regime looted the Painting from the heirs, forced the Sterns into disposing of it via a trustee, and confiscated the funds of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs initiated a related lawsuit in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An legal challenge was also dismissed in recently.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit contends that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had probably been seized by Nazis.

The institution responded that it is committed to its historical dedication to address claims from the Nazi period.

A spokesperson stated: Not once during the institution's custody of the painting was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the family – in fact, that information did not become known until many years after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – in particular, it was documented that the work was considered to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the similar kind in the inventory. Even though the museum respectfully stands by its position that this artwork entered the inventory and was removed legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum invites and will examine any additional details that comes to light.

Foundation's Defense

A lawyer representing the Goulandris Foundation said: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The action to litigate and defame the institution and the Goulandris family in the United States upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, twice. We are convinced it will be again.