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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have filed a lawsuit against The Met, claiming that a the Dutch artist art piece was looted by the Nazis.

Historical Background

Per the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the painting, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were compelled to leave their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The complaint contends that the institution, which acquired the masterpiece in the 1950s for $125,000, should have known it was almost certainly looted property. The heirs are now requesting the return of the artwork along with compensation.

Following World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, purchased and sold in and through New York, claims the court document.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns fled from the city of Munich to America in 1936 with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities declared the artwork as a German cultural asset and banned the couple from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a representative appointed by the regime disposed of the artwork on the family's behalf. Yet, the money from the sale were held in a blocked account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Subsequent Ownership

By 1948, or not long after, the artwork arrived in New York and was purchased by Vincent Astor, one of America's wealthiest people. Later, it was transferred through a gallery to the museum, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s.

Basil and Elise founded the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a gallery in Athens, Greece where the artwork is currently on display.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are identified in the suit. The lawsuit claims that the defendants and its associated organizations have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the foundation continue to hide the circumstances the institution came into control of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the Nazis looted the Painting from the family, forced the Sterns into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the funds of the transaction.

Earlier Lawsuits

The descendants filed a similar complaint in the state of California in recently, but it was dismissed in the following years. An appeal was also denied in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The lawsuit states that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was approved by a curator, the Met's authority of European art and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had probably been looted by the Nazis.

The museum responded that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to handle issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson commented: At no time during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any evidence that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – in fact, that knowledge did not become accessible until several decades after the painting left the institution's holdings.

The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the museum's strict criteria for deaccessioning – namely, it was recorded that the piece was considered to be of inferior standard than other works of the comparable nature in the inventory. Although the institution respectfully stands by its position that this piece entered the collection and was removed lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution is open to and will review any additional details that emerges.

Foundation's Defense

A lawyer representing the Goulandris Foundation commented: BEG is a renowned institution in the Greek capital. The action to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was already thrown out, twice. We are certain it will be a third time.