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The family members of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a Van Gogh oil painting was stolen by Nazi forces.

Origins of the Dispute

Per the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their residence in Munich just before World War II.

The legal action states that the Met, which purchased the painting in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was probably confiscated property. The family are now demanding the restitution of the artwork along with damages.

In the decades since the war, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, states the court document.

The Sterns' Escape

Hedwig and Frederick Stern escaped from the city of Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were prevented from taking the artwork, which was created by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before they left, Nazi authorities classified the painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the Sterns from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a Third Reich agent, a trustee assigned by the authorities sold the artwork on the couple's behalf. But, the proceeds from the sale were held in a restricted account, which the authorities later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or soon after, the artwork was brought to NYC and was bought by a prominent figure, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was sold through a gallery to the institution, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Goulandris and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a museum in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a surviving nephew of the magnate are identified in the suit. The filing claims that the family and its affiliates have covered up the painting's ownership and current place from the heirs.

Currently, the defendants continue to conceal the circumstances the foundation came into ownership of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the facts that the Nazis stole the artwork from the family, coerced the family into parting with it via a trustee, and confiscated the funds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family submitted a comparable case in CA in recently, but it was thrown out in 2024. An further action was also denied in May 2025.

Museum's Response

The legal action argues that the Met's purchase of the piece was approved by the museum's expert, the museum's curator of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the Painting had likely been stolen by the Nazis.

The institution issued a statement that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to resolve Nazi-era claims.

An official remarked: At no time during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the family – indeed, that knowledge did not become accessible until many years after the masterpiece left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for disposal – namely, it was noted that the artwork was judged to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the same type in the collection. Although the museum maintains its view that this piece entered the holdings and was sold properly and well within all standards and procedures, the museum is open to and will review any new information that comes to light.

BEG's Response

Legal counsel acting for BEG commented: The institution is a renowned institution in Greece. The effort to litigate and defame the Foundation and the family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, twice. We are confident it will be again.