‘Look Again’: The Met’s 45 European Art Galleries Finally Reopen After a Five-Year $150 Million Renovation

This Monday, Nov. 20, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has finally reopened its 45 art galleries showcasing more than 700 European paintings, after a rigorous skylight renovation project that took 5 years and $150 Million.

The reopening is aptly named "Look Again: European Paintings 1300-1800" which invites viewers to reexamine its world-famous pieces in a "new light," this includes artworks by Rembrandt, Caravaggio, and Poussin. This is in addition to the most extensive collection of El Greco and Goya paintings outside of Spain.

US-MUSEUM-ART-EXHIBIT-ARTS-PAINTING — Visitors walk through a gallery during a press preview at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on November 16, 2023. Five centuries of European painting can be seen in a new light starting November 20, thanks to a five-year, $150 million renovation at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The bold redo of the museum's massive wing devoted to masters from the 14th to 19th century includes a range of improvements, including to the section's skylights. Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images

A Milestone of The Met Museum's History

In an official press release, The Met's museum director Max Hollein shared how the reopening will enable visitors to "reunite with old favorites" and broaden their appreciation of the pieces within a "newly considered context."

The skylight renovation project is the museum's biggest infrastructure improvement to date, with the preceding upgrade dating all the way back to 1952. Starting in 2018, numerous construction teams renovated over 30,000 square feet of skylights that were first built in 1939.

The renovations provide a better source of natural light for the galleries, increasing energy consumption efficiency, and providing the ideal downlight for the pieces on display.

"The completion of the enormous skylight renovation project allows us to display these exceptional works of art within a superb setting, and we look forward to welcoming all to enjoy this splendid presentation of art and ideas for many years to come," Hollein explained

Refocusing Classic Art Into New Narratives

Stephan Wolohojian, the Curator in Charge of the Department of European Paintings, also shared how the renovation project presented the museum with an "important opportunity" to reenvision how The Met presents its marvelous collection using a "fresh lens."

This new approach allowed for a more chronological organization of the pieces. The walls that serve as a backdrop to the artworks were also coated with over 900 gallons of new vividly colored paint in order to reinforce the sequencing.

"Our goal is to engage meaningfully with our many audiences and make the experience of viewing our collection as rich, layered, and rewarding as possible," Wolohojian said.