Van Gogh Painting's Ownership Dispute Between Heirs and Museums

Heirs of Hedwig and Frederick Stern sued Met and Goulandris Foundation over Van Gogh's Olive Picking.
Sterns bought the painting in 1935, fled Munich in 1936, but Nazis seized it as German cultural property.
Met acquired the painting in 1956 for $125,000, then sold it to Basil Goulandris in 1972.
Heirs seek return or compensation, accusing Met and Rousseau of insufficient provenance checks.
Met claims it followed legal guidelines and was unaware of Stern connection during ownership.

History | Legal | Art

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Hedwig Stern | Frederick Stern | Theodore Rousseau Jr. | Basil Goulandris

6 days ago