Google Doodle Celebrates Metropolitan Museum of Art's 151st Birthday with Animated Tribute

On 13 April 2021, Google released a Doodle honoring the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 151st birthday, featuring an animation that explores the museum's collections, including Vincent van Gogh's Self-portrait with a Straw Hat (1887) and ancient artifacts. Originally planned for the Met's 150th anniversary in 2020, the tribute was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum, officially incorporated on 13 April 1870, faced a five-month closure last year, with ArtReview's Andrew Russeth visiting in August 2021 to describe the experience of returning to artworks like Édouard Manet's The Brioche (1870) and Florine Stettheimer's 'Cathedral' paintings (1929-42). Earlier in 2021, the Met proposed selling parts of its collection to address a potential $150 million budget deficit, sparking criticism from former director Thomas P. Campbell, who likened deaccessioning to 'crack cocaine to the addict.' Current director Max Hollein defended the move in February 2021, emphasizing the priority of preserving staff to care for the collection. The Doodle highlights the institution's cultural legacy amid ongoing financial challenges.