🔗 Share this article The Met Confronts Legal Challenge Over Allegedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh Masterpiece The descendants of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a Van Gogh art piece was looted by Nazi forces. Origins of the Dispute As stated in the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their residence in the German city of Munich just before WWII. The complaint contends that the museum, which purchased the artwork in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was almost certainly looted property. The descendants are now requesting the return of the canvas along with compensation. Following the war, this stolen artwork has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the legal filing. Family's Flight Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from their Munich home to America in the late 1930s with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. However, they were unable to bring the painting, which was created by the renowned Dutch in 1889. Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities classified the artwork as a German cultural asset and banned the family from exporting it. Following authorization from a regime representative, a trustee appointed by the Nazis auctioned the artwork on the Sterns' behalf. However, the funds from the auction were deposited in a blocked account, which the Nazis later took. Later Transactions By 1948, or shortly after, the painting was brought to New York and was purchased by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a gallery to the Met, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s. The Goulandris pair founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a gallery in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently exhibited. Claims and Defenses BEG and a family member of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The filing states that the Goulandris family and its related entities have covered up the masterpiece's history and location from the family. Even now, the foundation continue to hide how and when the BEG came into possession of the Painting; the family's possession of the Painting from several years; and the truth that the regime confiscated the Painting from the heirs, coerced the couple into parting with it via a regime representative, and confiscated the funds of the deal. Earlier Lawsuits The Stern heirs initiated a similar complaint in CA in 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also dismissed in spring 2025. Museum's Response The complaint contends that the institution's buying of the artwork was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the Met's authority of European art and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been stolen by the Nazis. The institution issued a statement that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to handle Nazi-era claims. A spokesperson stated: Never during the institution's custody of the piece was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – in fact, that knowledge did not become accessible until a long time after the artwork left the Museum's collection. The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for deaccessioning – specifically, it was noted that the artwork was judged to be of lower caliber than other works of the same type in the holdings. Although the museum maintains its stance that this artwork entered the collection and was sold legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum is open to and will review any further evidence that is discovered. Foundation's Defense Legal counsel representing the foundation said: BEG is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The action to sue and smear the institution and the Goulandris family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be once more.