Metropolitan Museum Faces Legal Challenge Over Allegedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Masterpiece

The descendants of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was seized by the Nazis.

Case History

As stated in the court documents, the Stern couple purchased the piece, titled Olive Picking, in the year 1935. The following year, they were compelled to leave their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of World War II.

The legal action contends that the Met, which acquired the artwork in the 1950s for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was likely stolen property. The family are now requesting the return of the painting along with financial restitution.

Following WWII, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

Family's Flight

The Stern family fled from Munich to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. However, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities declared the artwork as a German cultural asset and prohibited the Sterns from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Nazi official, a representative appointed by the Nazis sold the piece on the family's behalf. But, the funds from the sale were placed in a blocked account, which the regime later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or shortly after, the artwork was brought to New York and was purchased by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was exchanged through a gallery to the institution, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple set up the BEG in 1979, which runs a institution in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently on display.

Court Allegations

BEG and a family member of the magnate are listed as respondents. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the defendants continue to obscure the manner and time the institution 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 stole the Painting from the Stern family, coerced the family into parting with it via a trustee, and seized the proceeds of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants filed a comparable case in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The legal action states that the institution's buying of the piece was sanctioned by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the artwork had almost certainly been looted by Nazis.

The Met responded that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to handle issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson remarked: Not once during the museum's possession of the painting was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the family – actually, that knowledge did not become accessible until many years after the masterpiece left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – specifically, it was noted that the work was deemed to be of inferior standard than other works of the comparable nature in the inventory. Even though The Met maintains its position that this piece entered the collection and was deaccessioned properly and well within all rules and regulations, the museum invites and will examine any additional details that emerges.

Goulandris Statement

A lawyer acting for the Goulandris Foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The attempt to sue and smear the institution and the defendants in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, multiple times. We are certain it will be again.