Metropolitan Museum Faces Legal Action Over Reportedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh Painting
The family members of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Van Gogh oil painting was seized by the Third Reich.
Case History
According to the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their residence in Munich, Germany on the eve of the Second World War.
The legal action contends that the institution, which obtained the painting in the 1950s for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was likely looted property. The descendants are now requesting the restitution of the painting along with damages.
Following World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through NYC, states the court document.
The Sterns' Escape
The Stern family departed from their Munich home to California in the late 1930s with their large family due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the painting, which was created by the renowned Dutch in 1889.
Before the family's emigration, the regime designated the painting as property of the state and forbade the couple from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a agent designated by the authorities sold the painting on the family's behalf. Yet, the funds from the auction were held in a blocked account, which the authorities later took.
Subsequent Ownership
By 1948, or soon after, the artwork arrived in NYC and was bought by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was transferred through a commercial outlet to the museum, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate the magnate and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.
Basil and Elise set up the BEG in the late 1970s, which runs a institution in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently on display.
Court Allegations
The institution and a living relative of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action states that the defendants and its affiliates have covered up the masterpiece's history and current place from the family.
Even now, the foundation continue to hide how and when the BEG came into possession of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the reality that the regime looted the artwork from the heirs, pressured the family into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the funds of the sale.
Previous Legal Action
The family filed a related lawsuit in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An legal challenge was also dismissed in spring 2025.
Museum's Response
The legal action states that the institution's buying of the painting was approved by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the masterpiece had probably been stolen by the Nazis.
The Met responded that it prioritizes its historical dedication to address issues related to WWII.
A representative stated: At no time during the institution's custody of the piece was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the family – in fact, that data did not become known until a long time after the masterpiece left the Museum's collection.
The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for disposal – in particular, it was documented that the work was deemed to be of inferior standard than other pieces of the comparable nature in the collection. Even though the museum upholds its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was deaccessioned properly and well within all rules and regulations, the institution welcomes and will consider any further evidence that is discovered.
Foundation's Defense
William Charron on behalf of the Goulandris Foundation commented: BEG is a highly prestigious organization in Athens. The attempt to sue and smear the institution and the family in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are confident it will be a third time.
