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The descendants of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, alleging that a the Dutch artist art piece was stolen by the Third Reich.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The suit states that the Met, which obtained the painting in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was probably looted property. The heirs are now seeking the restitution of the painting along with compensation.

Following WWII, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, bought and sold in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Stern family departed from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their offspring due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was created by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before they left, the regime classified the painting as a German cultural asset and prohibited the couple from exporting it. Once approved from a Nazi official, a agent assigned by the authorities disposed of the painting on the couple's behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the auction were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later seized.

Post-War History

In 1948, or shortly after, the artwork arrived in NYC and was purchased by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the institution, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in 1972.

The Goulandris pair founded the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a institution in Athens where the artwork is currently shown.

Court Allegations

The institution and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are listed as respondents. The legal action claims that the family and its associated organizations have hidden and obscured the artwork's provenance and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the foundation continue to obscure how and when the BEG came into possession of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the Painting from several years; and the facts that the Third Reich looted the Painting from the Stern family, pressured the couple into disposing of it via a regime representative, and took the proceeds of the transaction.

Prior Cases

The descendants submitted a similar complaint in the state of California in recently, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also dismissed in recently.

Institution's Statement

The legal action contends that the museum's acquisition of the piece was sanctioned by a curator, the institution's specialist of European paintings and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met were aware or ought to have been aware that the artwork had almost certainly been seized by the Nazis.

The Met said in a statement that it is committed to its historical dedication to resolve issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson stated: At no time during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any record that it had once belonged to the Stern family – in fact, that knowledge did not become available until several decades after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of the artwork met the institution's rigorous standards for removal from collection – in particular, it was recorded that the piece was judged to be of lesser quality than other pieces of the comparable nature in the holdings. While the museum maintains its position that this work entered the collection and was sold lawfully and well within all rules and regulations, the Met is open to and will review any additional details that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel on behalf of BEG said: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in Greece. The effort to sue and smear the organization and the Goulandris family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, multiple times. We are certain it will be again.