🔗 Share this article The Met Confronts Legal Action Over Reportedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Masterpiece The descendants of a Jewish pair have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was stolen by Nazi forces. Historical Background Per the legal filing, the Stern couple acquired the piece, titled Olive Picking, in the year 1935. A year after, they were obliged to escape their home in Munich, Germany on the eve of WWII. The legal action argues that the institution, which purchased the painting in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was likely stolen property. The family are now requesting the return of the canvas along with financial restitution. Since the end of WWII, this stolen artwork has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the lawsuit. The Sterns' Escape Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their large family due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the Van Gogh piece, which was painted by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century. Before the family's emigration, the regime declared the painting as property of the state and banned the couple from taking it abroad. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative appointed by the Nazis disposed of the painting on the Sterns' behalf. But, the funds from the sale were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later seized. Post-War History In 1948, or soon after, the painting was brought to NYC and was acquired by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was transferred through a commercial outlet to the museum, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s. The Goulandris pair founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a gallery in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently on display. Legal Arguments The foundation and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are named as defendants. The filing alleges that the Goulandris family and its related entities have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and current place from the family. Even now, the defendants continue to obscure the circumstances the BEG came into control of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the masterpiece from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the Third Reich looted the artwork from the Stern family, coerced the Sterns into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the funds of the sale. Prior Cases The descendants submitted a related lawsuit in California in the year 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An appeal was also dismissed in May 2025. The Met's Position The complaint argues that the Met's purchase of the artwork was authorized by the museum's expert, the museum's curator of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the artwork had likely been stolen by the regime. The museum issued a statement that it takes seriously its historical dedication to resolve Nazi-era claims. A spokesperson remarked: Not once during the museum's possession of the artwork was there any evidence that it had once belonged to the heirs – actually, that knowledge did not become available until a long time after the painting left the Met's possession. The Met's sale of the artwork met the Met's guidelines for disposal – namely, it was noted that the work was judged to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the similar kind in the collection. Although the museum respectfully stands by its position that this artwork entered the collection and was removed properly and well within all rules and regulations, the institution is open to and will review any new information that is discovered. Goulandris Statement William Charron representing BEG stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Athens. The effort to take legal action against the institution and the Goulandris family in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was previously dismissed, twice. We are certain it will be a third time.