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The descendants of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming that a the Dutch artist canvas was stolen by the Nazis.

Case History

As stated in the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were obliged to escape their residence in Munich, Germany on the eve of World War II.

The legal action argues that the museum, which acquired the masterpiece in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was likely stolen property. The heirs are now seeking the return of the painting along with financial restitution.

Since the end of World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, purchased and sold in and through New York, states the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns escaped from the city of Munich to California in 1936 with their offspring due to the oppressive Nazi regime. Yet, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was created by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, Nazi authorities declared the painting as a German cultural asset and banned the family from bringing it with them. After obtaining permission from a Third Reich agent, a representative assigned by the Nazis auctioned the artwork on the couple's behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the transaction were placed in a restricted account, which the authorities later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or not long after, the painting was brought to the United States and was purchased by a prominent figure, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was transferred through a gallery to the museum, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner the magnate and his spouse, Elise Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

Basil and Elise set up the BEG in 1979, which manages a gallery in Athens where the masterpiece is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

BEG and a surviving nephew of Basil Goulandris are identified in the suit. The filing states that the family and its related entities have covered up the artwork's provenance and whereabouts from the family.

Even now, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal the manner and time the BEG came into ownership of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from several years; and the truth that the regime looted the artwork from the heirs, pressured the family into disposing of it via a regime representative, and seized the proceeds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The Stern heirs initiated a comparable case in the state of California in 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An further action was also denied in May 2025.

Museum's Response

The legal action contends that the institution's buying of the artwork was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the Met's authority of European paintings and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the artwork had probably been seized by the regime.

The museum issued a statement that it takes seriously its longstanding commitment to resolve Nazi-era claims.

A spokesperson commented: Not once during The Met's ownership of the painting was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – indeed, that information did not become available until many years after the painting left the Museum's collection.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the Met's guidelines for disposal – namely, it was recorded that the piece was deemed to be of lesser quality than other works of the same type in the collection. While the institution upholds its stance that this piece entered the inventory and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the institution is open to and will review any new information that comes to light.

Foundation's Defense

William Charron acting for BEG stated: The institution is a highly prestigious organization in Greece. The attempt to litigate and defame the institution and the Goulandris family in the United States upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are certain it will be a third time.