🔗 Share this article

The descendants of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against New York's Metropolitan Museum, alleging that a the Dutch artist canvas was stolen by the Third Reich.

Case History

Per the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in Munich on the eve of WWII.

The legal action contends that the institution, which acquired the artwork in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was almost certainly looted property. The descendants are now requesting the return of the canvas along with financial restitution.

In the decades since WWII, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, bought and sold in and through NYC, states the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family fled from the city of 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 produced by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities declared the artwork as property of the state and forbade the Sterns from taking it abroad. Following authorization from a regime representative, a representative assigned by the Nazis disposed of the piece on the family's behalf. However, the money from the auction were deposited in a frozen account, which the Nazis later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or shortly after, the painting arrived in the United States and was acquired by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was exchanged through a gallery to the Met, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the BEG in 1979, which runs a gallery in the Greek capital where the painting is currently on display.

Court Allegations

BEG and a surviving nephew of the magnate are named as defendants. The filing states that the Goulandris family and its related entities have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the Goulandris Defendants continue to obscure the circumstances the foundation came into control of the Painting; the couple's ownership of the artwork from several years; and the facts that the Nazis looted the canvas from the family, pressured the family into disposing of it via a regime representative, and took the money of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family submitted a similar complaint in CA in 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An legal challenge was also dismissed in recently.

Institution's Statement

The complaint states that the institution's buying of the artwork was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European paintings and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert must have known that the masterpiece had probably been stolen by the regime.

The institution responded that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to address Nazi-era claims.

A spokesperson commented: Not once during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any record that it had once belonged to the heirs – actually, that information did not become known until several decades after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the museum's strict criteria for disposal – specifically, it was recorded that the piece was deemed to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the same type in the collection. While the institution respectfully stands by its stance that this work entered the holdings and was removed legally and well within all standards and procedures, the museum welcomes and will consider any new information that comes to light.

BEG's Response

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