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The family members of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, alleging that a the Dutch artist canvas was stolen by Nazi forces.

Case History

According to the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern bought the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. The following year, they were forced to flee their residence in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The suit argues that the institution, which obtained the artwork in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was probably stolen property. The family are now demanding the return of the painting along with financial restitution.

Following World War II, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

Family's Flight

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from Munich to the United States in 1936 with their offspring due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Before they left, Nazi authorities declared the masterpiece as German cultural property and forbade the couple from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a agent designated by the regime auctioned the piece on the couple's behalf. Yet, the funds from the transaction were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later took.

Later Transactions

Around 1948, or soon after, the artwork entered the United States and was bought by a prominent figure, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was sold through a gallery to the Met, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple founded the BEG in 1979, which manages a museum in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a surviving nephew of the magnate are named as defendants. The filing alleges that the Goulandris family and its related entities have covered up the artwork's provenance and whereabouts from the family.

To this day, the foundation continue to conceal the manner and time the institution came into ownership of the artwork; the family's possession of the Painting from several years; and the reality that the Nazis looted the canvas from the heirs, pressured the family into selling it via a trustee, and took the funds of the deal.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs initiated a related lawsuit in California in the year 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An legal challenge was also rejected in recently.

Institution's Statement

The complaint argues that the Met's purchase of the painting was sanctioned by a curator, the museum's curator of European art and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had probably been seized by the Nazis.

The Met said in a statement that it is committed to its ongoing pledge to handle claims from the Nazi period.

A spokesperson commented: At no time during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any documentation that it had once belonged to the heirs – indeed, that knowledge did not become known until many years after the masterpiece left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for deaccessioning – specifically, it was recorded that the artwork was considered to be of inferior standard than additional artworks of the comparable nature in the collection. Even though The Met respectfully stands by its position that this work entered the holdings and was sold legally and well within all rules and regulations, the Met is open to and will review any additional details that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel acting for the foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in the Greek capital. The attempt to sue and smear the institution and the family in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, twice. We are convinced it will be again.