🔗 Share this article

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

Historical Background

According to the legal filing, the Stern couple purchased the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich on the eve of WWII.

The complaint contends that the museum, which acquired the masterpiece in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was likely looted property. The family are now demanding the return of the painting along with compensation.

Following the war, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

The Sterns' Escape

The Stern family departed from the city of Munich to the United States in the late 1930s with their six children due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was produced by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the regime declared the painting as property of the state and banned the Sterns from exporting it. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a representative appointed by the authorities disposed of the painting on the couple's behalf. However, the proceeds from the auction were placed in a frozen account, which the authorities later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or not long after, the canvas was brought to the United States and was acquired by a prominent figure, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was sold through a art dealer to the Met, which then sold it to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a gallery in Athens where the artwork is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

The foundation and a family member of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The filing claims that the family and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.

Currently, the foundation continue to hide the circumstances the foundation came into possession of the artwork; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the Third Reich confiscated the Painting from the Stern family, pressured the family into parting with it via a regime representative, and confiscated the proceeds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs initiated a comparable case in California in 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An further action was also rejected in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The legal action contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was authorized by the museum's expert, the museum's curator of European paintings and one of the world's foremost experts on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the artwork had likely been stolen by the regime.

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

A spokesperson commented: At no time during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any record that it had previously been owned to the Stern family – indeed, that knowledge did not become accessible until many years after the painting left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of the artwork met the institution's rigorous standards for disposal – namely, it was recorded that the artwork was judged to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the same type in the inventory. While the institution maintains its position that this work entered the inventory and was deaccessioned properly and well within all standards and procedures, the institution is open to and will review any additional details that emerges.

Foundation's Defense

A lawyer acting for BEG commented: The institution is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The action to take legal action against the institution and the Goulandris family in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, twice. We are certain it will be again.