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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Van Gogh oil painting was seized by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

As stated in the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. A year after, they were obliged to escape their dwelling in Munich prior to the Second World War.

The complaint argues that the Met, which purchased the painting in the 1950s for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was probably confiscated property. The descendants are now seeking the repatriation of the painting along with compensation.

Following the war, this plundered piece has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, claims the court document.

The Sterns' Escape

The Stern family fled from Munich to the United States in 1936 with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the painting, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities designated the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and banned the couple from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a regime representative, a trustee appointed by the Nazis auctioned the painting on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the funds from the sale were deposited in a restricted account, which the regime later confiscated.

Post-War History

In 1948, or shortly after, the painting was brought to NYC and was purchased by Vincent Astor, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the museum, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in 1972.

The Greek couple founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a museum in Athens where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

BEG and a surviving nephew of the magnate are named as defendants. The lawsuit states that the Goulandris family and its related entities have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and location from the family.

To this day, the Goulandris Defendants continue to obscure the manner and time the institution came into control of the piece; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from the mid-1930s; and the facts that the Third Reich looted the artwork from the heirs, forced the couple into selling it via a regime representative, and took the proceeds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs filed a similar complaint in California in the year 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An appeal was also dismissed in recently.

Museum's Response

The legal action contends that the museum's acquisition of the piece was approved by the museum's expert, the museum's curator of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum must have known that the artwork had likely been looted by the Nazis.

The museum responded that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to handle Nazi-era claims.

A spokesperson commented: Never during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – actually, that knowledge did not become known until a long time after the masterpiece left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – in particular, it was noted 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 artwork entered the holdings and was sold legally and well within all rules and regulations, the museum invites and will examine any further evidence that emerges.

BEG's Response

Legal counsel representing the Goulandris Foundation said: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The action to take legal action against the institution and the family in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, twice. We are certain it will be a third time.