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The family members of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against New York's Metropolitan Museum, alleging that a Van Gogh art piece was stolen by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

As stated in the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern bought the piece, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were obliged to escape their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of World War II.

The legal action states that the institution, which purchased the masterpiece in 1956 for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now requesting the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution.

Following World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, purchased and sold in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

Family's Flight

The Sterns escaped from the city of Munich to the United States in 1936 with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the Van Gogh piece, which was produced by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before they left, the regime classified the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and banned the family from taking it abroad. Once approved from a regime representative, a trustee appointed by the Nazis sold the artwork on the family's behalf. However, the money from the transaction were held in a blocked account, which the regime later confiscated.

Later Transactions

Around 1948, or soon after, the painting was brought to New York and was acquired by Vincent Astor, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was exchanged through a gallery to the Met, which then sold it to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his partner, Mrs. Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair set up the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a institution in the Greek capital where the painting is currently exhibited.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a family member of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action states that the Goulandris family and its related entities have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.

Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide how and when the BEG came into possession of the piece; the Stern family's ownership of the masterpiece from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the regime looted the canvas from the family, coerced the family into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the funds of the sale.

Previous Legal Action

The family submitted a comparable case in the state of California in 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also denied in recently.

Institution's Statement

The complaint states that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was approved by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of European paintings and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had almost certainly been seized by the Nazis.

The institution said in a statement that it is committed to its ongoing pledge to address claims from the Nazi period.

An official stated: At no time during the museum's possession of the piece was there any record that it had previously been owned to the heirs – in fact, that knowledge did not become available until many years after the masterpiece left the Museum's collection.

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 deemed to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the comparable nature in the collection. While The Met upholds its position that this work entered the collection and was sold legally and well within all standards and procedures, the museum welcomes and will consider any further evidence that emerges.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron on behalf of the Goulandris Foundation commented: BEG is a renowned institution in the Greek capital. The effort to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, multiple times. We are certain it will be once more.