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The family members of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Van Gogh art piece was looted by Nazi forces.

Case History

Per the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in the year 1935. The following year, they were forced to flee their home in Munich, Germany just before the Second World War.

The complaint argues that the institution, which acquired the painting in 1956 for $125,000, should have known it was likely stolen property. The heirs are now demanding the return of the painting along with damages.

Since the end of World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, bought and sold in and through the city of New York, states the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their large family due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was produced by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Before they left, Nazi authorities designated the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and prohibited the Sterns from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the Nazis sold the artwork on the family's behalf. Yet, the money from the sale were deposited in a restricted account, which the Nazis later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

By 1948, or not long after, the artwork arrived in New York and was purchased by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was exchanged through a commercial outlet to the institution, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in 1972.

Basil and Elise established the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a gallery in Athens where the painting is currently exhibited.

Court Allegations

The institution and a surviving nephew of the magnate are listed as respondents. The filing claims that the family and its related entities have covered up the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.

Currently, the defendants continue to obscure the circumstances the institution came into possession of the Painting; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the truth that the Third Reich looted the artwork from the heirs, pressured the family into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the proceeds of the transaction.

Prior Cases

The family submitted a similar complaint in California in the year 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An legal challenge was also dismissed in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The legal action states that the institution's buying of the artwork was approved by a curator, the museum's curator of European art and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had probably been stolen by the Nazis.

The institution said in a statement that it prioritizes its longstanding commitment to handle claims from the Nazi period.

A representative remarked: Not once during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any documentation that it had once belonged to the heirs – indeed, that knowledge did not become known until many years after the painting left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the Met's guidelines for disposal – in particular, it was noted that the piece was deemed to be of inferior standard than other pieces of the similar kind in the holdings. Although the institution maintains its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was removed legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the Met invites and will examine any further evidence that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

A lawyer representing the foundation said: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Athens. The action to sue and smear the institution and the defendants in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be again.