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The family members of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was stolen by Nazi forces.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the lawsuit, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their home in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The legal action states that the institution, which acquired the painting in the 1950s for a significant sum, ought to have been aware it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now seeking the restitution of the artwork along with compensation.

In the decades since WWII, this stolen artwork has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the lawsuit.

The Sterns' Escape

The Stern family fled from Munich to America in the late 1930s with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. However, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was produced by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the regime designated the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and forbade the family from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a representative appointed by the regime disposed of the artwork on the family's behalf. However, the money from the auction were deposited in a blocked account, which the authorities later took.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or shortly after, the canvas was brought to New York and was acquired by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was exchanged through a gallery to the institution, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his partner, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair founded the BEG in the late 1970s, which runs a institution in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

The foundation and a family member of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The lawsuit claims that the defendants and its related entities have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the defendants continue to obscure the circumstances the institution came into ownership of the Painting; the couple's ownership of the Painting from several years; and the truth that the regime confiscated the canvas from the heirs, pressured the couple into selling it via a regime representative, and confiscated the money of the sale.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants initiated a related lawsuit in California in recently, but it was thrown out in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in recently.

Museum's Response

The legal action argues that the Met's purchase of the piece was sanctioned by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist 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 Painting had probably been stolen by the regime.

The museum issued a statement that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to resolve issues related to WWII.

An official stated: At no time during the institution's custody of the painting was there any record that it had once belonged to the Stern family – actually, that knowledge did not become known until a long time after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – specifically, it was documented that the piece was judged to be of lower caliber than other works of the similar kind in the inventory. Although the museum respectfully stands by its view that this artwork entered the holdings and was sold lawfully and well within all rules and regulations, the Met invites and will examine any additional details that emerges.

Foundation's Defense

A lawyer representing the foundation said: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The effort to litigate and defame the organization and the defendants in the US upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, twice. We are certain it will be once more.