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The descendants of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a the Dutch artist oil painting was stolen by the Nazis.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the court documents, Hedwig and Frederick Stern purchased the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. The following year, they were compelled to leave their home in the German city of Munich on the eve of World War II.

The legal action argues that the institution, which acquired the artwork in the mid-1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was likely stolen property. The family are now requesting the return of the canvas along with damages.

In the decades since the war, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through NYC, alleges the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns fled from the city of Munich to America in the late 1930s with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. However, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the regime classified the painting as a German cultural asset and forbade the Sterns from taking it abroad. Once approved from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the authorities auctioned the piece on the couple's behalf. But, the money from the sale were placed in a frozen account, which the authorities later seized.

Subsequent Ownership

By 1948, or shortly after, the artwork arrived in the United States and was purchased by Vincent Astor, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the institution, which then passed it on to wealthy Greek businessman Goulandris and his spouse, Elise, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a institution in the Greek capital where the painting is currently on display.

Legal Arguments

The foundation and a family member of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The legal action alleges that the family and its related entities have concealed and disguised the painting's ownership and current place from the plaintiffs.

Even now, the foundation continue to obscure the manner and time the BEG came into possession of the Painting; the family's possession of the masterpiece from several years; and the facts that the regime stole the Painting from the heirs, forced the couple into selling it via a trustee, and seized the proceeds of the sale.

Earlier Lawsuits

The family filed a comparable case in California in recently, but it was rejected in 2024. An appeal was also dismissed in spring 2025.

Museum's Response

The lawsuit states that the museum's acquisition of the painting was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and one of the world's foremost experts on Nazi art looting. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the masterpiece had almost certainly been looted by the regime.

The Met responded that it takes seriously its ongoing pledge to address issues related to WWII.

An official stated: Not once during the museum's possession of the artwork was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – actually, that knowledge did not become known until a long time after the artwork left the Museum's collection.

The museum's disposal of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for disposal – specifically, it was noted that the work was considered to be of lower caliber than other pieces of the same type in the holdings. Although the institution maintains its stance that this work entered the holdings and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all guidelines and policies, the museum welcomes and will consider any further evidence that emerges.

Goulandris Statement

Legal counsel representing BEG said: The institution is a renowned institution in Greece. The action to sue and smear the institution and the Goulandris family in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was earlier rejected, multiple times. We are convinced it will be again.