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The heirs of a Jewish couple have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a the Dutch artist art piece was looted by Nazi forces.

Case History

Per the lawsuit, the Stern couple acquired the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were obliged to escape their residence in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The suit contends that the institution, which acquired the masterpiece in 1956 for a significant sum, must have realized it was almost certainly confiscated property. The heirs are now demanding the repatriation of the painting along with damages.

Following the war, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through the city of New York, alleges the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their large family due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were unable to bring the painting, which was created by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Prior to their departure, the regime declared the painting as a German cultural asset and forbade the couple from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Nazi official, a trustee designated by the regime sold the painting on the Sterns' behalf. However, the proceeds from the auction were placed in a restricted account, which the regime later confiscated.

Later Transactions

Around 1948, or not long after, the painting entered NYC and was purchased by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was transferred through a gallery to the institution, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

The Greek couple set up the BEG in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently on display.

Legal Arguments

BEG and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are identified in the suit. The legal action alleges that the Goulandris family and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the masterpiece's history and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the foundation continue to obscure how and when the foundation came into ownership of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from several years; and the facts that the Third Reich stole the Painting from the family, forced the couple into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the proceeds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family submitted a similar complaint in the state of California in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in spring 2025.

The Met's Position

The complaint argues that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by a curator, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert must have known that the Painting had almost certainly been looted by Nazis.

The institution said in a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to resolve issues related to WWII.

A representative stated: Not once during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had once belonged to the Stern family – in fact, that knowledge did not become available until several decades after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – in particular, it was recorded that the piece was considered to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the comparable nature in the collection. Although The Met respectfully stands by its stance that this work entered the holdings and was sold lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the Met invites and will examine any further evidence that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel on behalf of the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The action to litigate and defame the organization and the family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be a third time.