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The family members of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a Van Gogh canvas was seized by the Nazis.

Case History

According to the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich, Germany on the eve of World War II.

The suit argues that the museum, which acquired the painting in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was almost certainly confiscated property. The heirs are now demanding the repatriation of the canvas along with compensation.

Following the war, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through New York, states the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family escaped from Munich to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were barred from transporting the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Before they left, the regime designated the painting as property of the state and banned the couple from exporting it. Following authorization from a regime representative, a representative appointed by the Nazis sold the piece on the family's behalf. However, the money from the auction were placed in a restricted account, which the Nazis later confiscated.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or not long after, the canvas was brought to the United States and was acquired by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the institution, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a gallery in Athens where the artwork is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

The institution and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The filing states that the defendants and its related entities have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and location from the heirs.

Currently, the defendants continue to hide how and when the BEG came into possession of the artwork; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Nazis looted the artwork from the Stern family, pressured the couple into disposing of it via a trustee, and took the money of the deal.

Prior Cases

The Stern heirs initiated a related lawsuit in the state of California in recently, but it was dismissed in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in spring 2025.

The Met's Position

The complaint states that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the masterpiece had probably been seized by the Nazis.

The institution responded that it is committed to its historical dedication to handle claims from the Nazi period.

An official remarked: Not once during the museum's possession of the artwork was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – actually, that information did not become available until many years after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of the artwork met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – namely, it was recorded that the artwork was deemed to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the similar kind in the holdings. While The Met respectfully stands by its view that this piece entered the holdings and was removed lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the museum invites and will examine any additional details that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron representing the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Greece. The attempt to sue and smear the institution and the defendants in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, multiple times. We are convinced it will be again.