The Met Faces Legal Action Over Allegedly Nazi-Stolen Van Gogh Painting

The descendants of a Jewish couple have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, alleging that a the Dutch artist art piece was stolen by the Third Reich.

Historical Background

As stated in the legal filing, the Stern couple purchased the piece, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were compelled to leave their home in the German city of Munich on the eve of WWII.

The legal action contends that the Met, which acquired the painting in the mid-1950s for $125,000, should have known it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now seeking the repatriation of the painting along with compensation.

Since the end of 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.

The Sterns' Escape

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities declared the masterpiece as property of the state and forbade the family from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a trustee assigned by the regime auctioned the piece on the family's behalf. However, the money from the sale were held in a frozen account, which the regime later confiscated.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or shortly after, the painting entered the United States and was bought by a prominent figure, a member of the Astor family. Later, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the museum, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s.

The Greek couple established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which runs a institution in Athens where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Court Allegations

BEG and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The lawsuit states that the family and its related entities have concealed and disguised the artwork's provenance and current place from the plaintiffs.

To this day, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal how and when the BEG came into control of the piece; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the facts that the Nazis confiscated the Painting from the family, coerced the couple into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the proceeds of the deal.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs submitted a related lawsuit in CA in 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in recently.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit contends that the institution's buying of the piece was sanctioned by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the Painting had probably been stolen by the Nazis.

The Met issued a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to resolve Nazi-era claims.

An official commented: At no time during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had once belonged to the heirs – in fact, that information did not become accessible until a long time after the painting left the Museum's collection.

The museum's disposal of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – namely, it was documented that the work was judged to be of lower caliber than other works of the similar kind in the holdings. Although The Met maintains its view that this work entered the inventory and was sold lawfully and well within all rules and regulations, the Met invites and will examine any further evidence that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel on behalf of the foundation commented: BEG is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The action to litigate and defame the institution and the defendants in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was already thrown out, twice. We are convinced it will be a third time.