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The family members of a Jewish couple have initiated legal proceedings against New York's Metropolitan Museum, asserting that a the Dutch artist canvas was stolen by the Third Reich.

Historical Background

Per the legal filing, the Stern couple acquired the artwork, titled Gathering Olives, in 1935. A year after, they were compelled to leave their residence in the German city of Munich on the eve of the Second World War.

The complaint states that the Met, which obtained the masterpiece in the mid-1950s for $125,000, ought to have been aware it was almost certainly confiscated property. The family are now requesting the return of the canvas along with financial restitution.

In the decades since World War II, this plundered piece has been often and discreetly exchanged, bought and sold in and through NYC, claims the court document.

Family's Flight

Hedwig and Frederick Stern escaped from Munich to America in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were unable to bring the painting, which was painted by the Dutch post-impressionist in 1889.

Prior to their departure, Nazi authorities designated the painting as property of the state and prohibited the Sterns from taking it abroad. After obtaining permission from a regime representative, a agent appointed by the Nazis disposed of the painting on the Sterns' behalf. Yet, the funds from the transaction were placed in a frozen account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Post-War History

Around 1948, or soon after, the artwork entered New York and was bought by a wealthy American, among the richest individuals in the US. Eventually, it was sold through a art dealer to the Met, which then transferred it to prominent shipowner the magnate and his spouse, Elise, in the early 1970s.

Basil and Elise set up the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which manages a gallery in the Greek capital where the artwork is currently on display.

Claims and Defenses

The foundation and a living relative of Goulandris are identified in the suit. The lawsuit alleges that the Goulandris family and its affiliates have concealed and disguised the masterpiece's history and location from the heirs.

To this day, the defendants continue to hide how and when the institution came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the artwork from several years; and the truth that the regime looted the canvas from the heirs, forced the Sterns into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and seized the proceeds of the deal.

Previous Legal Action

The Stern heirs initiated a similar complaint in California in recently, but it was dismissed in 2024. An legal challenge was also denied in recently.

Institution's Statement

The complaint argues that the Met's purchase of the painting was approved by Theodore Rousseau Jr, the museum's curator of European paintings and a leading authority on Nazi-era looted art. Rousseau and the Met must have known that the Painting had probably been looted by Nazis.

The museum responded that it is committed to its longstanding commitment to address issues related to WWII.

An official stated: Never during The Met's ownership of the artwork was there any evidence that it had previously been owned to the heirs – in fact, that knowledge did not become available 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 deaccessioning – namely, it was noted that the work was considered to be of lower caliber than additional artworks of the similar kind in the collection. While The Met upholds its view that this artwork entered the inventory and was deaccessioned legally and well within all guidelines and policies, the institution invites and will examine any further evidence that emerges.

Foundation's Defense

William Charron acting for BEG commented: The Goulandris Foundation is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The attempt to sue and smear the organization and the defendants in the America upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, on two occasions. We are confident it will be once more.