Metropolitan Museum Responds to Lawsuit Over Supposedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Masterpiece

The heirs of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a the Dutch artist art piece was stolen by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

According to the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the painting, titled Gathering Olives, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were obliged to escape their home in the German city of Munich prior to WWII.

The suit argues that the museum, which obtained the painting in the mid-1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was almost certainly looted property. The family are now requesting the return of the canvas along with compensation.

In the decades since WWII, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, alleges the court document.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family departed from their Munich home to the United States in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, the Nazi government declared the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and forbade the couple from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a representative appointed by the regime sold the piece on the Sterns' behalf. But, the money from the transaction were held in a blocked account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Later Transactions

Around 1948, or not long after, the painting entered NYC and was purchased by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the Met, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise established the BEG in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a family member of the magnate are named as defendants. The legal action states that the Goulandris family and its related entities have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide the circumstances the BEG came into control of the Painting; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the truth that the Third Reich stole the Painting from the heirs, pressured the family into selling it via a trustee, and confiscated the money of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants filed a comparable case in the state of California in recently, but it was thrown out in 2024. An further action was also denied in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The legal action argues that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by the museum's expert, the museum's curator of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on art theft during the Nazi era. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had almost certainly been looted by the regime.

The institution issued a statement that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to handle issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson stated: Not once during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the family – in fact, that knowledge did not become known until a long time after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for disposal – specifically, it was documented that the artwork was judged to be of lesser quality than other works of the similar kind in the collection. Even though the institution upholds its stance that this artwork entered the holdings and was deaccessioned properly and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum is open to and will review any new information that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron acting for the foundation stated: The institution is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The action to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are confident it will be a third time.