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The family members of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh oil painting was looted by the Third Reich.

Historical Background

Per the legal filing, the Stern couple acquired the painting, titled Olive Picking, in the year 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich just before WWII.

The suit contends that the institution, which purchased the artwork in the 1950s for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was probably looted property. The descendants are now demanding the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution.

Since the end of the war, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through New York, states the legal filing.

Family's Flight

The Stern family departed from Munich to California in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Prior to their departure, the Nazi government designated the painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the couple from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a representative assigned by the Nazis auctioned the piece on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the money from the transaction were placed in a restricted account, which the regime later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or shortly after, the painting arrived in the United States and was acquired by a prominent figure, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was transferred through a gallery to the museum, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise founded the BEG in 1979, which manages a gallery in the Greek capital where the painting is currently exhibited.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a family member of the magnate are listed as respondents. The legal action states that the defendants and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and location from the heirs.

To this day, the foundation continue to conceal how and when the institution came into possession of the piece; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the truth that the Third Reich looted the artwork from the heirs, coerced the couple into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the proceeds of the sale.

Prior Cases

The Stern heirs filed a similar complaint in the state of California in 2022, but it was dismissed in 2024. An legal challenge was also dismissed in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The complaint states that the Met's purchase of the artwork was approved by a curator, the museum's curator of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the masterpiece had probably been seized by the regime.

The Met said in a statement that it is committed to its ongoing pledge to handle Nazi-era claims.

An official stated: At no time during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any record that it had previously been owned to the Stern family – indeed, that data did not become available until a long time after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for disposal – namely, it was noted that the work was deemed to be of lower caliber than other works of the similar kind in the holdings. Even though the museum respectfully stands by its stance that this piece entered the collection and was sold lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution invites and will examine any additional details that emerges.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron acting for BEG commented: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The action to litigate and defame the Foundation and the family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are convinced it will be once more.