«The recent news about this year's record attendance of over 5.6 million people marks an exciting moment in the Met's history; it is great to know that so many people are enjoying the Museum. But the Met experience need not be defined by crowds. To the contrary, I am struck every day by the intimate experiences that can be found within our galleries.»
In addition to our ever-changing exhibitions, I always find treasures in the Robert Wood Johnson, Jr. Gallery, which features rotating displays of prints and drawings from our outstanding collections in this area. Here, thoughtful installations focus on narrow aspects of the collection, put a new acquisition into context, or simply highlight an exquisite drawing that, for preservation reasons, must spend much of its time in storage.
Likewise, the Sackler Wing Galleries for the Arts of Japan feature changing installations of our magnificent screens, painted in luminescent gold and somehow both serene and stimulating. The current display feels like walking through a cool summer garden.
Our open-storage galleries are also wonderful places for quiet discovery. Whether it's shelves of silver tankards, cases of Roman glass, or rows of Egyptian scarabs, these rooms provide delightful amusement for the eye and a glimpse into the real depth of the collection.
I hope you'll come this summer and experience the surprising and unexpected pleasures to be found in every corner of the Metropolitan Museum.
Related Link
Press Release: Metropolitan Museum Announces 5.68 Million Attendance, Highest in 40 Years
Above: Suzuki Kiitsu (Japanese, 1796–1858). Morning Glories, Edo period (1615–1868), early 19th century. Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on gilded paper; 70 3/16 in. x 12 ft. 5 1/2 in. (178.2 x 379.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, Seymour Fund, 1954 (54.69.1, .2)