New York's Met Museum Confronts Legal Challenge Over Allegedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Painting

The heirs of a Jewish spouses have filed a lawsuit against The Met, claiming that a the Dutch artist canvas was seized by the Nazis.

Historical Background

Per the legal filing, the Stern couple bought the painting, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich prior to the Second World War.

The complaint argues that the institution, which obtained the artwork in the mid-1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was almost certainly stolen property. The family are now seeking the restitution of the painting along with compensation.

In the decades since WWII, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through the city of New York, states the legal filing.

The Sterns' Escape

Hedwig and Frederick Stern fled from Munich to America in 1936 with their offspring due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was produced by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities declared the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and forbade the Sterns from exporting it. Following authorization from a regime representative, a trustee assigned by the Nazis auctioned the piece on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the money from the auction were deposited in a frozen account, which the Nazis later seized.

Post-War History

By 1948, or soon after, the painting arrived in NYC and was acquired by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the Met, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his partner, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise founded the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a institution in the Greek capital where the painting is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

The foundation and a surviving nephew of the magnate are named as defendants. The filing claims that the Goulandris family and its related entities have hidden and obscured the artwork's provenance and current place from the family.

Even now, the foundation continue to obscure the manner and time the BEG came into ownership of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from several years; and the truth that the Nazis stole the Painting from the Stern family, forced the family into selling it via a trustee, and took the money of the deal.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants initiated a comparable case in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in the following years. An legal challenge was also rejected in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The lawsuit argues that the Met's purchase of the artwork was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had almost certainly been stolen by the Nazis.

The museum responded that it prioritizes its longstanding commitment to address issues related to WWII.

An official commented: At no time during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had once belonged to the family – actually, that knowledge did not become available until many years after the painting left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – specifically, it was noted that the work was judged to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the same type in the inventory. Although the museum maintains its view that this work entered the inventory and was deaccessioned legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the Met welcomes and will consider any further evidence that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron representing the Goulandris Foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The action to sue and smear the institution and the Goulandris family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are convinced it will be a third time.