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The family members of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Van Gogh canvas was stolen by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the court documents, the Stern couple acquired the painting, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. The following year, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in the German city of Munich on the eve of WWII.

The complaint contends that the Met, which obtained the artwork in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was probably looted property. The heirs are now seeking the return of the canvas along with financial restitution.

Following World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, claims the legal filing.

Family's Flight

The Sterns departed from Munich to California in 1936 with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Nevertheless, they were prevented from taking the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Prior to their departure, the regime designated the masterpiece as a German cultural asset and prohibited the Sterns from taking it abroad. Once approved from a regime representative, a trustee assigned by the Nazis disposed of the painting on the family's behalf. But, the funds from the sale were deposited in a blocked account, which the regime later seized.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or shortly after, the painting arrived in the United States and was acquired by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was sold through a art dealer to the museum, which then sold it to prominent shipowner the magnate and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair founded the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a gallery in Athens where the masterpiece is currently on display.

Court Allegations

The institution and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are named as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that the family and its associated organizations have covered up the masterpiece's history and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the defendants continue to hide the manner and time the institution came into ownership of the piece; the family's possession of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the truth that the regime stole the Painting from the Stern family, coerced the Sterns into disposing of it via a regime representative, and confiscated the proceeds of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family initiated a similar complaint in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in May 2025.

Museum's Response

The lawsuit states that the institution's buying of the piece was approved by the museum's expert, the institution's specialist of European art and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the masterpiece had likely been looted by the Nazis.

The Met issued a statement that it prioritizes its historical dedication to handle claims from the Nazi period.

A spokesperson commented: Not once during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – indeed, that data did not become accessible until several decades after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for disposal – namely, it was documented that the work was considered to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the comparable nature in the collection. While the institution upholds its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was removed legally and well within all standards and procedures, the museum is open to and will review any additional details that is discovered.

Foundation's Defense

Legal counsel representing BEG said: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Greece. The attempt to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the America upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, on two occasions. We are certain it will be again.