🔗 Share this article New York's Met Museum Faces Legal Action Over Supposedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Artwork The heirs of a Jewish pair have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Van Gogh art piece was looted by the Nazis. Case History Per the lawsuit, the Stern couple bought the piece, titled Olive Harvest, in the year 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their residence in Munich prior to WWII. The suit contends that the museum, which obtained the masterpiece in the 1950s for $125,000, should have known it was likely stolen property. The heirs are now seeking the return of the artwork along with compensation. Following the war, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through NYC, claims the legal filing. Forced Emigration The Sterns departed from Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the Van Gogh piece, which was painted by the celebrated artist in 1889. Prior to their departure, the Nazi government classified the painting as German cultural property and forbade the family from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a representative assigned by the regime sold the artwork on the family's behalf. But, the proceeds from the auction were deposited in a restricted account, which the Nazis later confiscated. Post-War History By 1948, or shortly after, the artwork was brought to the United States and was acquired by Vincent Astor, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was sold through a gallery to the Met, which then sold it to wealthy Greek businessman Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in 1972. Basil and Elise established the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a museum in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently exhibited. Legal Arguments BEG and a living relative of Goulandris are named as defendants. The filing claims that the family and its affiliates have covered up the masterpiece's history and location from the family. To this day, the Goulandris Defendants continue to conceal the circumstances the foundation came into ownership of the Painting; the couple's ownership of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the facts that the Third Reich confiscated the Painting from the Stern family, pressured the family into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the money of the deal. Earlier Lawsuits The Stern heirs submitted a similar complaint in CA in recently, but it was dismissed in the following years. An further action was also rejected in spring 2025. Museum's Response The complaint contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was approved by the museum's expert, the museum's curator of Old Masters and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. Rousseau and the Met knew or should have known that the Painting had likely been seized by the Nazis. The museum issued a statement that it prioritizes its historical dedication to address issues related to WWII. An official commented: Not once during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any record that it had previously been owned to the heirs – actually, that data did not become known until many years after the painting left the Met's possession. The institution's deaccessioning of the artwork met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – namely, it was documented that the piece was deemed to be of inferior standard than other works of the comparable nature in the collection. Even though the institution upholds its view that this artwork entered the inventory and was removed properly and well within all guidelines and policies, the Met welcomes and will consider any further evidence that comes to light. Goulandris Statement Legal counsel representing the foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a renowned institution in the Greek capital. The attempt to litigate and defame the organization and the Goulandris family in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are certain it will be a third time.