New York's Met Museum Confronts Legal Challenge Over Supposedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Painting

The heirs of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a the Dutch artist canvas was looted by the Nazis.

Case History

Per the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the artwork, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were obliged to escape their home in Munich, Germany just before World War II.

The complaint argues that the Met, which purchased the painting in the 1950s for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was almost certainly looted property. The descendants are now demanding the return of the canvas along with damages.

Following the war, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, bought and sold in and through the city of New York, states the legal filing.

Family's Flight

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to the United States in 1936 with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the painting, which was created by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Prior to their departure, the regime declared the artwork as a German cultural asset and banned the couple from bringing it with them. Once approved from a regime representative, a trustee appointed by the authorities auctioned the piece on the family's behalf. However, the proceeds from the sale were deposited in a frozen account, which the authorities later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or shortly after, the painting was brought to NYC and was bought by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was sold through a art dealer to the museum, which then sold it to prominent shipowner the magnate and his wife, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple set up the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a institution in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

The foundation and a surviving nephew of the magnate are named as defendants. The legal action alleges that the defendants and its related entities have hidden and obscured the masterpiece's history and location from the plaintiffs.

To this day, the defendants continue to obscure the circumstances the institution came into ownership of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the regime confiscated the canvas from the family, coerced the Sterns into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the money of the sale.

Prior Cases

The descendants filed a similar complaint in CA in recently, but it was dismissed in 2024. An further action was also dismissed in May 2025.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit argues that the Met's purchase of the painting was sanctioned by a curator, the institution's specialist of European art and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the masterpiece had probably been looted by the Nazis.

The Met said in a statement that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to address issues related to WWII.

A representative commented: Not once during the institution's custody of the piece was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the family – actually, that data did not become accessible until many years after the artwork left the institution's holdings.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the institution's rigorous standards for disposal – specifically, it was noted that the artwork was deemed to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the same type in the collection. While The Met upholds its view that this work entered the holdings and was sold legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution is open to and will review any new information that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel on behalf of BEG commented: The institution is a renowned institution in Athens. The attempt to sue and smear the Foundation and the family in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are certain it will be once more.