🔗 Share this article The Met Responds to Legal Challenge Over Supposedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh Painting The heirs of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was seized by Nazi forces. Case History According to the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War. The complaint contends that the institution, which purchased the painting in the mid-1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now seeking the repatriation of the painting along with financial restitution. Since the end of World War II, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the legal filing. Family's Flight The Sterns fled from Munich to California in 1936 with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the painting, which was produced by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century. Prior to their departure, the Nazi government classified the painting as property of the state and banned the couple from bringing it with them. Once approved from a regime representative, a trustee assigned by the authorities sold the piece on the couple's behalf. But, the money from the sale were deposited in a blocked account, which the Nazis later seized. Post-War History In 1948, or not long after, the artwork entered NYC and was purchased by a prominent figure, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was sold through a gallery to the institution, which then passed it on to prominent shipowner Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972. Basil and Elise founded the BEG in 1979, which operates a museum in the Greek capital where the painting is currently on display. Legal Arguments BEG and a living relative of the magnate are identified in the suit. The filing states that the defendants and its related entities have covered up the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs. To this day, the Goulandris Defendants continue to obscure the manner and time the institution came into control of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the regime confiscated the canvas from the Stern family, forced the family into parting with it via a trustee, and seized the money of the deal. Previous Legal Action The family initiated a similar complaint in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An further action was also dismissed in May 2025. Museum's Response The complaint argues that the museum's acquisition of the painting was authorized by a curator, the Met's authority of European art and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had almost certainly been seized by the regime. The Met issued a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to address Nazi-era claims. An official stated: Never during the institution's custody of the piece was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – actually, that data did not become known until a long time after the artwork left the Met's possession. The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for disposal – in particular, it was recorded that the piece was deemed to be of inferior standard than other works of the similar kind in the collection. While the museum upholds its position that this artwork entered the collection and was sold legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum welcomes and will consider any new information that is discovered. Goulandris Statement William Charron representing BEG stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Greece. The action to take legal action against the Foundation and the defendants in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are certain it will be a third time.