🔗 Share this article

The heirs of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a Van Gogh canvas was seized by Nazi forces.

Historical Background

As stated in the legal filing, the Stern couple acquired the piece, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. The following year, they were compelled to leave their residence in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The suit contends that the Met, which obtained the artwork in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was likely looted property. The heirs are now demanding the return of the canvas along with compensation.

Since the end of WWII, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, states the legal filing.

Family's Flight

The Stern family escaped from the city of Munich to the United States in the late 1930s with their offspring due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was created by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the Nazi government designated the artwork as property of the state and banned the couple from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a trustee assigned by the regime auctioned the piece on the Sterns' behalf. But, the funds from the sale were deposited in a blocked account, which the Nazis later seized.

Later Transactions

In 1948, or soon after, the painting was brought to New York and was bought by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Eventually, it was exchanged through a commercial outlet to the Met, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

The Goulandris pair set up the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a institution in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

The foundation and a family member of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The legal action alleges that the defendants and its related entities have hidden and obscured the masterpiece's history and current place from the family.

Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal the manner and time the institution came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the Nazis stole the artwork from the Stern family, pressured the couple into parting with it via a trustee, and took the proceeds of the transaction.

Prior Cases

The Stern heirs filed a comparable case in the state of California in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in recently.

Museum's Response

The legal action argues that the museum's acquisition of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the Painting had almost certainly been stolen by the Nazis.

The institution said in a statement that it prioritizes its historical dedication to handle Nazi-era claims.

A representative remarked: Never during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any evidence that it had once belonged to the Stern family – indeed, that knowledge did not become available until a long time after the painting left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of the artwork met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – specifically, it was recorded that the work was deemed to be of inferior standard than other works of the same type in the collection. Even though The Met respectfully stands by its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was sold properly and well within all rules and regulations, the Met invites and will examine any new information that comes to light.

BEG's Response

William Charron representing BEG said: BEG is a esteemed foundation in Athens. The action to take legal action against the organization and the family in the US upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be a third time.