🔗 Share this article The Met Responds to Lawsuit Over Allegedly Nazi-Stolen Van Gogh Painting The heirs of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against The Met, alleging that a the Dutch artist oil painting was stolen by Nazi forces. Case History Per the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the piece, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. A year after, they were forced to flee their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War. The legal action contends that the institution, which obtained the artwork in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was likely stolen property. The family are now seeking the repatriation of the artwork along with compensation. In the decades since WWII, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit. Forced Emigration Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from Munich to California in the late 1930s with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century. Before they left, the Nazi government designated the artwork as German cultural property and forbade the Sterns from exporting it. Following authorization from a regime representative, a trustee assigned by the Nazis auctioned the painting on the couple's behalf. But, the proceeds from the transaction were held in a frozen account, which the authorities later took. Post-War History In 1948, or soon after, the painting entered New York and was acquired by a prominent figure, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the museum, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in 1972. Basil and Elise founded the BEG in 1979, which runs a institution in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently exhibited. Court Allegations The foundation and a living relative of Basil Goulandris are identified in the suit. The legal action states that the family and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the artwork's provenance and whereabouts from the plaintiffs. Currently, the foundation continue to obscure the circumstances the foundation came into control of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the Third Reich looted the artwork from the heirs, pressured the couple into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the money of the deal. Prior Cases The Stern heirs submitted a related lawsuit in CA in recently, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also rejected in May 2025. Institution's Statement The lawsuit argues that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on art theft during the Nazi era. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the artwork had probably been seized by the regime. The Met issued a statement that it takes seriously its historical dedication to address Nazi-era claims. A spokesperson stated: At no time during the museum's possession of the painting was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the Stern family – indeed, that knowledge did not become accessible until several decades after the masterpiece left the institution's holdings. The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for deaccessioning – namely, it was noted that the artwork was judged to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the similar kind in the collection. Although The Met maintains its position that this work entered the inventory and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution is open to and will review any further evidence that emerges. BEG's Response A lawyer acting for the foundation stated: BEG is a highly prestigious organization in Greece. The action to litigate and defame the organization and the defendants in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are certain it will be again.