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The heirs of a Jewish pair have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, alleging that a Van Gogh canvas was stolen by Nazi forces.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the painting, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of World War II.

The complaint argues that the museum, which acquired the painting in the 1950s for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was likely stolen property. The descendants are now requesting the repatriation of the painting along with damages.

Since the end of WWII, this stolen artwork has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, claims the court document.

Family's Flight

The Sterns escaped from their Munich home to America in 1936 with their offspring due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the artwork, which was created by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Before they left, the regime classified the masterpiece as German cultural property and forbade the family from exporting it. Following authorization from a regime representative, a trustee appointed by the regime sold the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. However, the funds from the sale were deposited in a restricted account, which the Nazis later confiscated.

Later Transactions

Around 1948, or not long after, the canvas arrived in the United States and was purchased by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the museum, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate the magnate and his spouse, Elise, in 1972.

Basil and Elise founded the BEG in 1979, which manages a gallery in Athens where the masterpiece is currently on display.

Court Allegations

The institution and a family member of Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action states that the Goulandris family and its associated organizations have covered up the artwork's provenance and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide the manner and time the institution came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the Painting from several years; and the facts that the Third Reich stole the artwork from the Stern family, coerced the family into parting with it via a regime representative, and took the money of the transaction.

Prior Cases

The family submitted a related lawsuit in CA in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An legal challenge was also dismissed in May 2025.

Museum's Response

The lawsuit contends that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was authorized by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of European art and a leading authority on Nazi-era looted art. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had almost certainly been seized by Nazis.

The institution said in a statement that it takes seriously its historical dedication to address issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson stated: Never during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the family – indeed, that information did not become available until several decades after the masterpiece left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – namely, it was noted that the work was judged to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the similar kind in the inventory. Even though the museum upholds its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was sold legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum welcomes and will consider any new information that is discovered.

BEG's Response

A lawyer representing BEG said: The institution is a renowned institution in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the institution and the defendants in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are certain it will be once more.