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The family members of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Van Gogh oil painting was stolen by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

As stated in the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in Munich prior to the Second World War.

The complaint states that the institution, which acquired the masterpiece in 1956 for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was almost certainly stolen property. The heirs are now seeking the return of the painting along with damages.

In the decades since WWII, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, bought and sold in and through New York, alleges the legal filing.

The Sterns' Escape

The Sterns fled from Munich to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities declared the painting as German cultural property and banned the Sterns from bringing it with them. After obtaining permission from a regime representative, a representative assigned by the authorities sold the painting on the couple's behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the transaction were held in a blocked account, which the Nazis later confiscated.

Post-War History

In 1948, or soon after, the canvas entered New York and was bought by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was sold through a art dealer to the museum, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his partner, Elise, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair set up the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which manages a museum in Athens where the masterpiece is currently on display.

Legal Arguments

BEG and a family member of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The lawsuit states that the Goulandris family and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal the circumstances the BEG came into ownership of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the Nazis looted the canvas from the Stern family, coerced the family into disposing of it via a regime representative, and seized the proceeds of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs initiated a related lawsuit in the state of California in recently, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in recently.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit argues that the Met's purchase of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European paintings and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert must have known that the masterpiece had probably been stolen by the regime.

The institution issued a statement that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to address Nazi-era claims.

A spokesperson commented: Never during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any evidence that it had earlier been possessed to the family – indeed, that knowledge did not become known until many years after the masterpiece left the Museum's collection.

The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – in particular, it was noted that the artwork was deemed to be of lesser quality than other works of the similar kind in the inventory. Even though the institution respectfully stands by its position that this piece entered the holdings and was deaccessioned legally and well within all rules and regulations, the museum is open to and will review any further evidence that comes to light.

BEG's Response

Legal counsel representing the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the organization and the defendants in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be once more.