🔗 Share this article

The descendants of a Jewish spouses have filed a lawsuit against The Met, asserting that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was looted by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

Per the lawsuit, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were forced to flee their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The legal action states that the institution, which purchased the painting in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was likely stolen property. The heirs are now demanding the restitution of the artwork along with financial restitution.

Following WWII, this stolen artwork has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, purchased and sold in and through New York, alleges the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns escaped from the city of Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the painting, which was created by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before they left, the regime classified the painting as property of the state and forbade the family from bringing it with them. Once approved from a Nazi official, a agent assigned by the Nazis sold the artwork on the couple's behalf. However, the money from the transaction were placed in a frozen account, which the Nazis later confiscated.

Post-War History

By 1948, or shortly after, the painting was brought to New York and was purchased by a prominent figure, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was transferred through a commercial outlet to the institution, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman Goulandris and his partner, Elise, in 1972.

The Greek couple founded the BEG in 1979, which manages a museum in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a family member of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The lawsuit alleges that the Goulandris family and its affiliates have covered up the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.

To this day, the foundation continue to obscure how and when the BEG came into ownership of the Painting; the family's possession of the Painting from several years; and the facts that the Third Reich looted the Painting from the family, coerced the couple into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the funds of the deal.

Earlier Lawsuits

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

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit states that the museum's acquisition of the piece was sanctioned by a curator, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had probably been seized by the regime.

The Met issued a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to address Nazi-era claims.

An official remarked: Never during the institution's custody of the piece was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – indeed, that data did not become available until a long time after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – in particular, it was recorded that the work was judged to be of inferior standard than other pieces of the same type in the collection. Although the museum respectfully stands by its stance that this piece entered the inventory and was removed legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum is open to and will review any new information that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel representing the foundation said: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The action to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the US upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are confident it will be again.