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The descendants of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a the Dutch artist art piece was stolen by the Third Reich.

Historical Background

As stated in the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich prior to World War II.

The suit argues that the museum, which obtained the masterpiece in 1956 for $125,000, ought to have been aware it was likely looted property. The family are now requesting the return 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, states the court document.

Family's Flight

The Sterns departed from Munich to the United States in the late 1930s with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. However, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities classified the painting as property of the state and prohibited the Sterns from taking it abroad. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative assigned by the Nazis auctioned the painting on the family's behalf. Yet, the money from the sale were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

In 1948, or soon after, the artwork was brought to New York and was purchased by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was sold through a gallery to the museum, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair set up the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a surviving nephew of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action claims that the family and its related entities have covered up the masterpiece's history and current place from the heirs.

Even now, the defendants continue to hide the manner and time the foundation came into possession of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from several years; and the reality that the regime stole the Painting from the Stern family, coerced the family into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the money of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The family filed a similar complaint in CA in 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An further action was also rejected in recently.

Museum's Response

The lawsuit contends that the museum's acquisition of the piece was approved by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the Painting had likely been seized by the Nazis.

The museum issued a statement that it is committed to its ongoing pledge to address claims from the Nazi period.

A spokesperson remarked: At no time during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the family – actually, that information did not become accessible until several decades after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – namely, it was documented that the artwork was judged to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the same type in the collection. Although The Met upholds its stance that this artwork entered the inventory and was removed legally and well within all rules and regulations, the Met is open to and will review any additional details that is discovered.

BEG's Response

Legal counsel acting for BEG stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the institution and the defendants in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are certain it will be again.