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The family members of a Jewish spouses have initiated legal proceedings against The Met, alleging that a the Dutch artist oil painting was seized by the Third Reich.

Case History

According to the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern bought the painting, titled Olive Picking, in 1935. Just one year later, they were forced to flee their home in Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The complaint contends that the institution, which obtained the painting in the mid-1950s for a significant sum, should have known it was probably confiscated property. The descendants are now requesting the return of the painting along with damages.

Following World War II, this Nazi-looted painting has been frequently and covertly traded, acquired and disposed of in and through New York, alleges the legal filing.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns escaped from Munich to America in 1936 with their offspring due to persecution by the Nazis. Yet, they were barred from transporting the artwork, which was painted by the renowned Dutch in 1889.

Before they left, the Nazi government designated the artwork as German cultural property and prohibited the couple from exporting it. Once approved from a regime representative, a trustee assigned by the Nazis auctioned the piece on the Sterns' behalf. However, the proceeds from the auction were deposited in a frozen account, which the Nazis later confiscated.

Subsequent Ownership

By 1948, or not long after, the canvas was brought to New York and was bought by a prominent figure, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was exchanged through a gallery to the institution, which then sold it to Greek shipping magnate Goulandris and his spouse, Mrs. Goulandris, in 1972.

The Greek couple established the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in 1979, which operates a institution in the Greek capital where the painting is currently on display.

Court Allegations

The institution and a surviving nephew of Goulandris are named as defendants. The legal action claims that the defendants and its affiliates have covered up the artwork's provenance and current place from the plaintiffs.

Currently, the foundation continue to hide the manner and time the foundation came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the artwork from the mid-1930s; and the reality that the Nazis looted the artwork from the Stern family, pressured the couple into disposing of it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and took the proceeds of the deal.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs submitted a similar complaint in CA in the year 2022, but it was thrown out in the following years. An appeal was also denied in May 2025.

The Met's Position

The legal action contends that the Met's purchase of the piece was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the institution's specialist of Old Masters and a renowned specialist on Nazi-era looted art. The curator and the museum knew or should have known that the Painting had probably been seized by the Nazis.

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

An official stated: Not once during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any evidence that it had once belonged to the heirs – in fact, that data did not become known until a long time after the painting left the Met's possession.

The institution's deaccessioning of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for removal from collection – namely, it was noted that the artwork was judged to be of lesser quality than other works of the comparable nature in the holdings. Even though The Met maintains its position that this artwork entered the holdings and was removed properly and well within all standards and procedures, the institution invites and will examine any additional details that comes to light.

Goulandris Statement

William Charron on behalf of the Goulandris Foundation stated: BEG is a renowned institution in Athens. The effort to sue and smear the Foundation and the defendants in the US upon inaccurate and partial claims was previously dismissed, twice. We are confident it will be a third time.