New York's Met Museum Faces Legal Action Over Allegedly Nazi-Plundered Van Gogh Artwork

The heirs of a Jewish pair have brought a case against New York's Metropolitan Museum, claiming that a Vincent van Gogh oil painting was stolen by the Nazis.

Case History

According to the legal filing, Frederick and Hedwig Stern purchased the artwork, titled Olive Picking, in the mid-1930s. Just one year later, they were compelled to leave their residence in Munich, Germany just before WWII.

The legal action argues that the institution, which acquired the painting in 1956 for one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, must have realized it was probably looted property. The descendants are now demanding the restitution of the artwork along with damages.

In the decades since the war, this Nazi-looted painting has been often and discreetly exchanged, purchased and sold in and through the city of New York, alleges the court document.

Family's Flight

The Sterns escaped from Munich to California in 1936 with their six children due to Nazi persecution. Nevertheless, they were barred from transporting the painting, which was produced by the Dutch post-impressionist in the late 19th century.

Before the family's emigration, the regime classified the masterpiece as German cultural property and prohibited the Sterns from bringing it with them. Following authorization from a Nazi official, a agent designated by the Nazis disposed of the painting on the couple's behalf. However, the funds from the transaction were held in a restricted account, which the authorities later confiscated.

Subsequent Ownership

Around 1948, or shortly after, the painting arrived in NYC and was acquired by a wealthy American, one of America's wealthiest people. Subsequently, it was sold through a commercial outlet to the Met, which then passed it on to Greek shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and his wife, Elise, in 1972.

Basil and Elise set up the Goulandris Foundation in the late 1970s, which operates a museum in the Greek capital where the painting is currently on display.

Court Allegations

The institution and a surviving nephew of the magnate are listed as respondents. The filing alleges that the family and its affiliates have hidden and obscured the artwork's provenance and current place from the family.

Even now, the defendants continue to obscure how and when the BEG came into control of the artwork; the family's possession of the artwork from 1935 to 1938; and the truth that the regime stole the Painting from the Stern family, coerced the couple into selling it via a Nazi-appointed agent, and confiscated the proceeds of the transaction.

Previous Legal Action

The descendants initiated a comparable case in CA in the year 2022, but it was rejected in the following years. An appeal was also rejected in recently.

Institution's Statement

The lawsuit 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 art looting. The institution and its expert knew or should have known that the artwork had probably been stolen by the Nazis.

The Met responded that it takes seriously its historical dedication to handle issues related to WWII.

A spokesperson remarked: At no time during the institution's custody of the artwork was there any documentation that it had earlier been possessed to the Stern family – indeed, that information did not become available until a long time after the artwork 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 noted that the piece was considered to be of inferior standard than other works of the similar kind in the holdings. Although The Met maintains its view that this piece entered the holdings and was deaccessioned lawfully and well within all rules and regulations, the Met is open to and will review any additional details that is discovered.

BEG's Response

Legal counsel on behalf of the foundation commented: BEG is a esteemed foundation in the Greek capital. The effort to sue and smear the organization and the Goulandris family in the United States upon deceptive and insufficient accusations was earlier rejected, twice. We are certain it will be again.