Metropolitan Museum Confronts Legal Challenge Over Allegedly Nazi-Looted Van Gogh Artwork
The heirs of a Jewish couple have filed a lawsuit against The Met, alleging that a Vincent van Gogh canvas was seized by the Third Reich.
Case History
As stated in the legal filing, the Stern couple purchased the piece, titled Gathering Olives, in the mid-1930s. A year after, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich on the eve of the Second World War.
The complaint states that the institution, which purchased the artwork in the mid-1950s for $125,000, must have realized it was almost certainly looted property. The family are now requesting the restitution of the painting along with damages.
In the decades since the war, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, claims the lawsuit.
Forced Emigration
The Sterns fled from Munich to America in 1936 with their offspring due to persecution by the Nazis. However, they were barred from transporting the Van Gogh piece, which was created by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.
Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities declared the artwork as property of the state and banned the couple from exporting it. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a representative designated by the authorities sold the artwork on the couple's behalf. But, the proceeds from the transaction were held in a restricted account, which the Nazis later confiscated.
Post-War History
By 1948, or soon after, the painting was brought to New York and was purchased by a prominent figure, among the richest individuals in the US. Subsequently, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the institution, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in 1972.
The Greek couple founded the Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which runs a gallery in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently shown.
Claims and Defenses
The institution and a living relative of Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action states that the family and its associated organizations have covered up the artwork's provenance and whereabouts from the plaintiffs.
Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide how and when the institution came into ownership of the artwork; the couple's ownership of the masterpiece from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the Nazis stole the artwork from the family, pressured the couple into selling it via a regime representative, and took the proceeds of the sale.
Previous Legal Action
The family submitted a comparable case in CA in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An appeal was also rejected in spring 2025.
Institution's Statement
The complaint argues that the Met's purchase of the artwork was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of European art and a leading authority on Nazi art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the Painting had probably been stolen by Nazis.
The institution responded that it prioritizes its ongoing pledge to address claims from the Nazi period.
An official remarked: At no time during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any record that it had previously been owned to the heirs – actually, that knowledge did not become accessible until several decades after the painting left the Museum's collection.
The museum's disposal of the Van Gogh met the Met's guidelines for removal from collection – specifically, it was documented that the work was considered to be of lower caliber than other works of the same type in the holdings. While the museum maintains its position that this artwork entered the inventory and was deaccessioned properly and well within all standards and procedures, the museum welcomes and will consider any further evidence that is discovered.
Foundation's Defense
Legal counsel acting for the Goulandris Foundation stated: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The action to sue and smear the Foundation and the defendants in the US upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was previously dismissed, on two occasions. We are confident it will be once more.