🔗 Share this article New York's Met Museum Responds to Legal Challenge Over Allegedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Artwork The family members of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh art piece was looted by Nazi forces. Case History As stated in the lawsuit, the Stern couple acquired the painting, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. Just one year later, they were obliged to escape their home in Munich, Germany on the eve of the Second World War. The complaint contends that the institution, which obtained the masterpiece in 1956 for $125,000, ought to have been aware it was likely stolen property. The family are now seeking the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution. Following WWII, this Nazi-looted painting has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, bought and sold in and through NYC, states the legal filing. The Sterns' Escape The Sterns departed from Munich to the United States in the late 1930s with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century. Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities designated the painting as a German cultural asset and banned the Sterns from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a agent appointed by the authorities auctioned the painting on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the transaction were held in a blocked account, which the regime later seized. Subsequent Ownership Around 1948, or soon after, the painting entered the United States and was acquired by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was transferred through a art dealer to the museum, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman the magnate and his wife, Elise Goulandris, in the early 1970s. Basil and Elise established the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which manages a gallery in Athens, Greece where the painting is currently exhibited. Court Allegations The institution and a family member of Goulandris are named as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that the Goulandris family and its affiliates have covered up the masterpiece's history and whereabouts from the plaintiffs. To this day, the foundation continue to obscure the manner and time the BEG came into ownership of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the masterpiece from several years; and the facts that the Nazis looted the Painting from the Stern family, pressured the family into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the funds of the sale. Previous Legal Action The Stern heirs initiated a related lawsuit in California in 2022, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also denied in May 2025. Museum's Response The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the artwork was sanctioned by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European art and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had almost certainly been looted by the regime. The museum said in a statement that it is committed to its ongoing pledge to handle issues related to WWII. A representative stated: Not once during the museum's possession 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 artwork left the institution's holdings. The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – namely, it was recorded that the artwork was considered to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the same type in the collection. While the museum maintains its view that this piece entered the inventory and was removed legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution is open to and will review any additional details that comes to light. Foundation's Defense William Charron on behalf of the foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The effort to litigate and defame the institution and the family in the US upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are certain it will be once more.