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The heirs of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against The Met, alleging that a the Dutch artist art piece was looted by Nazi forces.

Case History

As stated in the court documents, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the painting, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in Munich, Germany on the eve of the Second World War.

The legal action argues that the Met, which purchased the masterpiece in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, ought to have been aware it was likely confiscated property. The heirs are now requesting the repatriation of the artwork along with compensation.

In the decades since WWII, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through New York, claims the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family fled from Munich to California in 1936 with their six children due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were prevented from taking the painting, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century.

Before they left, the regime classified the masterpiece as property of the state and prohibited the Sterns from exporting it. Once approved from a Nazi official, a trustee appointed by the Nazis sold the painting on the couple's behalf. Yet, the money from the sale were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later took.

Later Transactions

By 1948, or shortly after, the canvas arrived in NYC and was purchased by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Subsequently, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the Met, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair established the BEG in 1979, which operates a museum in Athens, Greece where the masterpiece is currently exhibited.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are named as defendants. The filing states that the defendants and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the artwork's provenance and location from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the defendants continue to hide the manner and time the BEG came into control of the piece; the family's possession of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the Nazis stole the artwork from the heirs, coerced the couple into disposing of it via a trustee, and seized the funds of the deal.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family initiated a similar complaint in CA in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An further action was also rejected in recently.

The Met's Position

The legal action argues that the Met's purchase of the painting was sanctioned by the museum's expert, the Met's authority of European art and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the Painting had likely been stolen by Nazis.

The institution issued a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to address issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson stated: Never during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any record that it had once belonged to the Stern family – in fact, that data did not become accessible until many years after the masterpiece left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for deaccessioning – specifically, it was recorded that the work was judged to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the similar kind in the inventory. While the museum upholds its stance that this work entered the inventory and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all rules and regulations, the museum is open to and will review any further evidence that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron acting for the Goulandris Foundation said: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in Athens. The action to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be again.