🔗 Share this article

The family members of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was looted by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

Per the court documents, the Stern couple acquired the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their dwelling in Munich on the eve of World War II.

The suit argues that the institution, which acquired the masterpiece in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was almost certainly stolen property. The heirs are now demanding the repatriation of the artwork along with damages.

Since the end of the war, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, purchased and sold in and through New York, claims the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns fled from Munich to America in 1936 with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the painting, which was produced by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before they left, Nazi authorities declared the artwork as property of the state and prohibited the couple from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the Nazis disposed of the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the sale were held in a frozen account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or not long after, the canvas arrived in the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a gallery to the museum, which then sold it to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens where the artwork is currently exhibited.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a living relative of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action states that the family and its related entities have covered up the painting's ownership and location from the family.

Currently, the defendants continue to conceal the circumstances the foundation came into possession of the artwork; the family's possession of the masterpiece from the mid-1930s; and the reality that the Third Reich stole the Painting from the Stern family, pressured the Sterns into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the proceeds of the transaction.

Prior Cases

The Stern heirs initiated a similar complaint in the state of California in 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An further action was also dismissed in May 2025.

Institution's Statement

The complaint contends that the institution's buying of the piece was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European art and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum must have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been seized by the regime.

The Met responded that it prioritizes its longstanding commitment to address claims from the Nazi period.

An official commented: Not once during the museum's possession of the painting was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – indeed, that information did not become accessible until many years after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The museum's disposal of the artwork met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – in particular, it was noted that the work was considered to be of inferior standard than other works of the similar kind in the holdings. Even though the museum upholds its view that this artwork entered the inventory and was sold legally and well within all standards and procedures, the museum invites and will examine any further evidence that emerges.

Foundation's Defense

Legal counsel acting for the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The effort to litigate and defame the organization and the defendants in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be a third time.