New York's Met Museum Responds to Legal Challenge Over Reportedly Nazi-Stolen Van Gogh Artwork
The family members of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a the Dutch artist canvas was looted by the Third Reich.
Historical Background
As stated in the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. A year after, they were forced to flee their dwelling in the German city of Munich on the eve of WWII.
The suit contends that the Met, which purchased the masterpiece in the 1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was probably looted property. The family are now requesting the return of the artwork along with financial restitution.
In the decades since World War II, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through NYC, states the legal filing.
Family's Flight
The Stern family departed from Munich to the United States in the late 1930s with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the Van Gogh piece, which was produced by the celebrated artist in 1889.
Before they left, the Nazi government designated the artwork as a German cultural asset and forbade the couple from exporting it. Once approved from a Nazi official, a agent assigned by the Nazis auctioned the piece on the couple's behalf. But, the funds from the sale were held in a frozen account, which the authorities later confiscated.
Post-War History
By 1948, or not long after, the artwork entered the United States and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Later, it was exchanged through a commercial outlet to the institution, which then sold it to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his partner, Elise, in the early 1970s.
Basil and Elise set up the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently exhibited.
Court Allegations
The institution and a family member of the magnate are named as defendants. The legal action claims that the family and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.
Currently, the defendants continue to obscure the manner and time the foundation came into ownership of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the Nazis looted the Painting from the Stern family, coerced the family into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the money of the deal.
Prior Cases
The descendants initiated a related lawsuit in CA in recently, but it was dismissed in 2024. An further action was also rejected in May 2025.
Institution's Statement
The complaint argues that the institution's buying of the painting was sanctioned by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the artwork had almost certainly been seized by the Nazis.
The Met issued a statement that it prioritizes its ongoing pledge to resolve issues related to WWII.
A spokesperson stated: At no time during the museum's possession of the painting was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the family – indeed, that information did not become accessible until many years after the painting left the Museum's collection.
The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – specifically, it was recorded that the artwork was judged to be of lesser quality than other works of the similar kind in the collection. Although the museum respectfully stands by its position that this artwork entered the collection and was sold lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution welcomes and will consider any additional details that is discovered.
BEG's Response
Legal counsel on behalf of the foundation stated: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The attempt to take legal action against the institution and the family in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was previously dismissed, twice. We are certain it will be once more.
