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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have brought a case against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, asserting that a the Dutch artist art piece was seized by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

According to the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern bought the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their dwelling in Munich prior to the Second World War.

The suit argues that the museum, which acquired the artwork in 1956 for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was likely confiscated property. The heirs are now requesting the return of the artwork along with compensation.

Following WWII, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, bought and sold in and through NYC, alleges the legal filing.

The Sterns' Escape

Hedwig and Frederick Stern escaped from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Yet, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was produced by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before they left, the regime classified the painting as German cultural property and banned the Sterns from exporting it. Once approved from a regime representative, a agent designated by the authorities sold the artwork on the family's behalf. However, the proceeds from the auction were placed in a blocked account, which the regime later seized.

Post-War History

In 1948, or soon after, the painting arrived in the United States and was purchased by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Later, it was exchanged through a gallery to the institution, which then transferred it to wealthy Greek businessman Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a institution in Athens, Greece where the masterpiece is currently exhibited.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a family member of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The legal action claims that the family and its associated organizations have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and current place from the heirs.

To this day, the foundation continue to obscure the circumstances the institution came into control of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the facts that the regime looted the artwork from the family, forced the couple into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the funds of the sale.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants submitted a related lawsuit in CA in 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An legal challenge was also rejected in spring 2025.

Institution's Statement

The complaint contends that the institution's buying of the artwork was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European art and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the artwork had likely been looted by Nazis.

The museum issued a statement that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to handle claims from the Nazi period.

An official remarked: Not once during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the heirs – in fact, that data did not become known until many years after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the Met's guidelines for disposal – namely, it was noted that the piece was judged to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the same type in the inventory. Even though the museum respectfully stands by its stance that this work entered the collection and was removed lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the museum is open to and will review any new information that emerges.

Goulandris Statement

A lawyer acting for the Goulandris Foundation stated: The institution is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the organization and the Goulandris family in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, multiple times. We are confident it will be once more.