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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a the Dutch artist oil painting was looted by the Nazis.

Historical Background

As stated in the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich on the eve of World War II.

The complaint argues that the Met, which purchased the artwork in the mid-1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was likely confiscated property. The heirs are now requesting the repatriation of the artwork along with financial restitution.

Following World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through New York, alleges the court document.

Family's Flight

The Stern family escaped from the city of Munich to the United States in the late 1930s with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were prevented from taking the painting, which was produced by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, the regime designated the masterpiece as German cultural property and banned the Sterns from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a trustee appointed by the regime sold the piece on the couple's behalf. But, the proceeds from the sale were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later seized.

Post-War History

By 1948, or soon after, the artwork arrived in New York and was purchased by Vincent Astor, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a gallery to the museum, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple set up the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a institution in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently exhibited.

Court Allegations

BEG and a living relative of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The lawsuit alleges that the Goulandris family and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the family.

To this day, the foundation continue to hide how and when the institution came into ownership of the Painting; the family's possession of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the Third Reich looted the canvas from the Stern family, forced the couple into selling it via a regime representative, and took the money of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants submitted a related lawsuit in California in 2022, but it was thrown out in the following years. An further action was also denied in May 2025.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit states that the Met's purchase of the artwork was sanctioned by a curator, the museum's curator of European art and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the artwork had probably been seized by Nazis.

The museum responded that it prioritizes its historical dedication to resolve claims from the Nazi period.

A spokesperson stated: At no time during the museum's possession of the painting was there any evidence that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – in fact, that information did not become known until a long time after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for deaccessioning – in particular, it was documented that the artwork was judged to be of lesser quality than other works of the comparable nature in the inventory. Although the institution maintains its view that this work entered the collection and was deaccessioned legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution invites and will examine any additional details that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel on behalf of BEG commented: BEG is a renowned institution in Athens. The effort to take legal action against the institution and the Goulandris family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, twice. We are confident it will be again.