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The heirs of a Jewish pair have initiated legal proceedings against The Metropolitan Museum of Art, alleging that a Van Gogh oil painting was stolen by the Nazis.

Case History

Per the legal filing, the Stern couple bought the painting, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. A year after, they were forced to flee their dwelling in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The complaint contends that the institution, which obtained the painting in the 1950s for a significant sum, must have realized it was probably confiscated property. The heirs are now seeking the restitution of the painting along with financial restitution.

Following WWII, this Nazi-looted painting has been repeatedly and secretly trafficked, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, states the lawsuit.

Family's Flight

The Stern family departed from Munich to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to the oppressive Nazi regime. However, they were unable to bring the painting, which was painted by the celebrated artist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, the regime classified the artwork as German cultural property and banned the family from exporting it. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the regime sold the artwork on the couple's behalf. However, the funds from the sale were deposited in a blocked account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Later Transactions

By 1948, or soon after, the painting was brought to NYC and was purchased by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Later, it was sold through a gallery to the institution, which then sold it to prominent shipowner the magnate and his wife, Elise Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple set up the BEG in 1979, which runs a institution in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently on display.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a living relative of the magnate are identified in the suit. The legal action alleges that the family and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the painting's ownership and whereabouts from the heirs.

To this day, the foundation continue to hide the manner and time the BEG came into ownership of the piece; the family's possession of the masterpiece from 1935 to 1938; and the reality that the regime looted the Painting from the family, coerced the couple into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the funds of the deal.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs submitted a comparable case in California in 2022, but it was dismissed in the following years. An legal challenge was also denied in spring 2025.

The Met's Position

The complaint states that the Met's purchase of the painting was authorized by a curator, the Met's authority of European paintings and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The curator and the museum were aware or ought to have been aware that the masterpiece had almost certainly been seized by the regime.

The Met issued a statement that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to resolve Nazi-era claims.

An official stated: At no time during the institution's custody of the painting was there any documentation that it had previously been owned to the heirs – in fact, that data did not become known until many years after the artwork left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for deaccessioning – namely, it was documented that the work was deemed to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the comparable nature in the collection. While the institution respectfully stands by its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was removed lawfully and well within all standards and procedures, the museum welcomes and will consider any additional details that is discovered.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron representing BEG stated: The institution is a highly prestigious organization in Athens. The action to sue and smear the organization and the family in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, twice. We are confident it will be a third time.