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The heirs of a Jewish pair have brought a case against The Met, claiming that a the Dutch artist oil painting was looted by the Nazis.

Origins of the Dispute

As stated in the legal filing, Hedwig and Frederick Stern bought the artwork, titled Olive Harvest, in 1935. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their dwelling in Munich, Germany prior to World War II.

The suit states that the institution, which acquired the artwork in the 1950s for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, should have known it was probably confiscated property. The descendants are now demanding the repatriation of the canvas along with compensation.

Following WWII, this plundered piece has been frequently and covertly traded, purchased and sold in and through NYC, states the lawsuit.

Forced Emigration

The Sterns fled from Munich to America in 1936 with their large family due to persecution by the Nazis. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the painting, which was created by the celebrated artist in 1889.

Before the family's emigration, the Nazi government classified the masterpiece as property of the state and forbade the couple from exporting it. Following authorization from a Third Reich agent, a agent assigned by the authorities disposed of the painting on the family's behalf. Yet, the proceeds from the transaction were placed in a restricted account, which the regime later took.

Post-War History

In 1948, or shortly after, the artwork entered New York and was bought by a wealthy American, a member of the Astor family. Eventually, it was sold through a gallery to the institution, which then transferred it to Greek shipping magnate the magnate and his wife, Elise, in 1972.

The Greek couple set up the BEG in 1979, which manages a museum in the Greek capital where the masterpiece is currently shown.

Legal Arguments

The institution and a living relative of Goulandris are listed as respondents. The legal action states that the family and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the artwork's provenance and location from the heirs.

Currently, the Goulandris Defendants continue to hide how and when the BEG came into control of the Painting; the family's possession of the Painting from the mid-1930s; and the reality that the regime looted the artwork from the heirs, pressured the couple into disposing of it via a trustee, and seized the proceeds of the deal.

Previous Legal Action

The family submitted a similar complaint in California in 2022, but it was thrown out in 2024. An further action was also denied in spring 2025.

The Met's Position

The complaint argues that the institution's buying of the piece was authorized by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the Met's authority 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 looted by the regime.

The institution issued a statement that it takes seriously its historical dedication to address claims from the Nazi period.

A representative commented: Not once during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any record that it had earlier been possessed to the heirs – in fact, that data did not become known until several decades after the painting left the Met's possession.

The Met's sale of Olive Picking met the museum's strict criteria for disposal – specifically, it was documented that the piece was judged to be of lesser quality than additional artworks of the comparable nature in the holdings. While The Met upholds its stance that this piece entered the collection and was sold legally and well within all rules and regulations, the museum welcomes and will consider any additional details that is discovered.

BEG's Response

Legal counsel representing BEG stated: BEG is a highly prestigious organization in Greece. The attempt to litigate and defame the organization and the family in the United States upon misleadingly incomplete allegations was already thrown out, on two occasions. We are convinced it will be again.