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The family members of a Jewish pair have filed a lawsuit against The Met, claiming that a the Dutch artist oil painting was seized by Nazi forces.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern acquired the artwork, titled Olive Picking, in the year 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their home in Munich, Germany on the eve of the Second World War.

The suit argues that the institution, which obtained the artwork in 1956 for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was likely looted property. The descendants are now requesting the restitution of the canvas along with damages.

Since the end of the war, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through NYC, alleges the court document.

Family's Flight

Hedwig and Frederick Stern departed from their Munich home to America in 1936 with their large family due to Nazi persecution. However, they were unable to bring the painting, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Prior to their departure, the Nazi government classified the masterpiece as German cultural property and prohibited the couple from exporting it. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a trustee designated by the Nazis disposed of the painting on the family's behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the sale were held in a restricted account, which the authorities later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or shortly after, the canvas entered the United States and was purchased by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Later, it was exchanged through a art dealer to the museum, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his partner, Elise Goulandris, in the early 1970s.

Basil and Elise founded the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which runs a institution in Athens where the artwork is currently shown.

Court Allegations

The foundation and a living relative of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The filing 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 obscure the manner and time the foundation came into control of the Painting; the Stern family's ownership of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the facts that the Third Reich looted the artwork from the heirs, forced the Sterns into parting with it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the money of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants submitted a similar complaint in California in recently, but it was dismissed in 2024. An appeal was also denied in recently.

Institution's Statement

The complaint states that the museum's acquisition of the artwork was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European paintings and a leading authority on art theft during the Nazi era. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the masterpiece had likely been seized by the regime.

The Met issued a statement that it takes seriously its historical dedication to handle issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson remarked: Not once during The Met's ownership of the piece was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the family – in fact, that information did not become available until several decades after the masterpiece left the Met's possession.

The museum's disposal of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – namely, it was noted that the work was considered to be of inferior standard than other pieces of the comparable nature in the inventory. Even though the museum upholds its position that this piece entered the holdings and was deaccessioned properly and well within all standards and procedures, the institution welcomes and will consider any further evidence that comes to light.

Foundation's Defense

William Charron representing the Goulandris Foundation commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a highly prestigious organization in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the institution and the defendants in the America upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was earlier rejected, twice. We are convinced it will be a third time.