Google doodles

[9A]

Jun 13, 2021

Aurélia de Souza's 155th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 155th birthday of Portuguese artist Aurélia de Souza, one of the few women whose work was exhibited in galleries alongside Portugal’s great 19th century painters. Infused with strokes of realist and impressionist influences, de Souza’s naturalist paintings served as windows into daily Portuguese life through landscapes of her journeys and her personal favorite genre: self- and family portraits.

On this day in 1866, Maria Aurélia de Souza was born to Portuguese immigrants in Valparaíso, Chile. Her family returned to their homeland after acquiring a farm along the Douro river near Porto, Portugal. It was on these idyllic banks that de Souza began to paint and draw at the age of 16. After only three years, she painted her first self-portrait—an art form that became her hallmark.

In 1893, de Souza further refined her talent in the Portuguese tradition as a student of the Porto Academy of Fine Arts. De Souza moved to Paris in 1899, where she expanded her palette as an apprentice of several French masters. After one year in her new home, she captured herself dressed wearing a red-coat in the oil painting “Self-Portrait,” a work widely regarded as her most famous. She continued to draw influence from the international arts in the years that followed, traveling across Europe before returning to Portugal in 1902.

De Souza’s paintings were regularly featured at her alma mater, just one of the many prestigious Portuguese galleries that championed her work. In addition to her lifelong work as a painter, de Souza also illustrated for Portuguese magazines and the 1913 short story entitled “Perfis Suaves” [“Smooth Profiles”].

Happy birthday, Aurélia de Souza!

[9A]

Apr 27, 2024

South Africa Freedom Day 2024


Today’s annual Doodle celebrates 30 years of Freedom in South Africa! On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first-ever democratic elections after years of racial segregation under apartheid.

Freedom Day reminds South Africans of the sacrifices made to achieve emancipation, and honors the individuals who championed freedom, human rights, and democracy. One such hero was Nelson Mandela, who became South Africa’s first Black president following the 1994 elections. More than 19 million South African citizens of all races casted their ballots over a four-day voting period, marking a new dawn in the country.

On Freedom Day, many people attend concerts, rallies, festivals, and more to celebrate. Some may choose to spend time with loved ones and gather for meals, while others visit historical sites such as Robben Island. All throughout the country, the multi-color national flag waves high in the sky — just like in today’s artwork.

Happy Freedom Day, South Africa!

[9A]

Apr 27, 2024

King's Day 2024


This King's Day 2024 Doodle features an open-air flea market!

This Doodle celebrates the most orange day of the year in the Netherlands — Koningsdag or King’s Day 2024! This public holiday acts as a nationwide birthday party for King Willem-Alexander, who became the first Dutch king in over a century in 2014. The observance date for King’s [or Queen’s] Day usually moves whenever a new ruler ascends to the throne.

On King’s Day, the king and his family visit a different region in the Netherlands each year, mingling with the locals and visiting attractions specific to the area. The Dutch people typically wear bright orange outfits that represent the national color, all while waving the red, white, and blue national flag — like the one in today’s artwork.

They attend grand parades, lively concerts, bustling street markets, and jubilant pubs to celebrate. Many traditional games like bite-the-cake and toilet bowl throwing are also available at funfairs around the country.

Happy King’s Day!

[9A]

Apr 23, 2024

St. George's Day 2024


This hand crafted St. George's Day Doodle features St. George with the legendary dragon and roses.

Legend has it that a greedy and vicious dragon ruined the city of Silene, Libya. Every day, the dragon demanded a sacrifice of two sheep from the townspeople to satisfy its endless hunger — and when there were no sheep to offer, a human was sent in their place. Eventually, the king’s daughter was chosen as tribute. When all looked grim, St. George came to the rescue and conquered the dragon with his lance. The king promised the hero treasures, but St. George refused them and instead donated the gold to the townsfolk.

To honour his bravery, the people in England annually celebrate St. George’s Day with feasts, parades, parties, concerts, and more. The symbol of St. George, a flag with a red cross against a white field, can be seen flying high throughout the streets. Around the world, many also exchange red roses and wear them on their lapels, which is another way to pay homage to the patron saint.

Happy St. George’s Day!

[9A]

Apr 06, 2024

Francis García's 66th Birthday



This Doodle celebrates the 66th birthday of MexicanartistandperformerFrancis García, who was one of the first trans entertainers to become a national public figure.

Francis’s mother and aunt, two of her biggest supporters, taught Francis how to sew when she was young. She pursued costume design and made clothes for carnivals and fairs, and started working at a dress store in Mexico City at only 17. She performed as a drag queen and danced in vedette shows at the Blanquita Theater, where she was discovered. National recognition came after she was cast in the famous Mexican movie, Bellas de Noche.

Following the success of her first movie, Francis landed her own show, El Show de Francis, which became popular across Mexico and the United States. Loving every moment in the spotlight, her performances included ballads in beautiful self-designed gowns, dazzling Vegas showgirl-style dance numbers, and hilarious celebrity impersonations. The show ran from 1980-1998 and was one of the most popular shows run by a trans person.

Francis appeared in several films and shows throughout her career and was best known for her roles in Los Relajadores [The Relaxed Ones], De Super Macho a Super Hembra [From Super Male to Super Female], and Desde Gayola [From Gayola]. The Campeche Carnival in her hometown named Francis their “Queen of Queens” in 2005, and her mother maintained a museum that honored her and displayed her elaborate costumes for years. She was one of the first openly LGBTQ+ celebrities in the country and advocated for equal rights throughout her entire life.

Happy birthday Francis! Thank you for all the love, entertainment, and joy you brought to the stage and screen!

[9A]

Mar 07, 2024

Lola Beltrán's 92nd Birthday


This animated Doodle celebrates Mexican actress and singerLola Beltrán, who helped popularize Ranchera and Huapango music.

Beltrán grew up in a working class family in El Rosario, Sinaloa. Her church choir inspired her love of singing and she became obsessed with ballads. In 1953, Beltrán and her mother moved to Mexico City to pursue her career as a singer.

After getting a job as a popular radio station’s secretary, Beltrán earned the chance to participate in an on-air singing contest. She didn’t just win — the producers were so impressed that they helped her secure a recording contract. Beltrán started to cover popular songs on air and even earned her own radio show, but she had bigger dreams.

Working with songwriters, Beltrán crafted stories of underdog characters seeking and earning redemption. Her melancholic voice and sensibilities resonated with people across Mexico, and songs like “Cucurrucucu Paloma" and “Cielito Lindo” made her an in-demand talent. Although she sang about the country’s working-class people, she managed to engross audiences from all walks of life.

Beltrán became the first Ranchera singer to perform at the prestigious El Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. She also sang for presidents and leaders around the world. Over the course of her career, Beltrán made 100 albums and starred in 50 films. She inspired generations of Mexican singers to embrace folk music and sing about their authentic experiences.

Happy Birthday, Lola Beltrán!

[9A]

Jan 10, 2024

Louis Joseph César Ducornet's 218th Birthday



This Doodle celebrates French artist Louis Joseph César Ducornet, a renowned painter in the 1800s who paintedsolely with his foot due to limb differences from birth.

Ducornet was born with a phocomelia, which causes malformations in one’s arms and legs. Ducornet didn’t have arms or a left leg but had four toes on his right foot. Ducornet’s father carried him around throughout his childhood since he couldn’t walk. After picking up a piece of charcoal with his toes, Ducornet began experimenting with sketches. This started a lifelong passion for painting.

After becoming a proficient illustrator, Ducornet attracted the attention of local schools and artists. He received training and the government provided him with a pension so he was able to study under renowned painters in Paris. Early in his career, he focused on biblically-inspired pieces such as Repentance [1828] and St. Louis administering Justice. The Lille Museum features both paintings to this day.

Ducornet’s disability prevented him from earning awards through the Prix de Rome, a French scholarship foundation. However, he did earn several awards from the prestigious Salon d’Art. In 1840, he painted Mary Magdalene, which the French government purchased. He followed up with one of his most famous works — a self-portrait of him painting with his foot. His historical scenes and portraits continue to grace some of the most storied art museums.

Happy birthday, Louis Joseph César Ducornet!

[9A]

Dec 20, 2023

Sedad Hakkı Eldem's 115th Birthday


This Doodle celebrates Turkish architect Sedad Hakki Eldem, who is widely remembered for modernizing architecture in Türkiye.

Eldem’s passion for art, design, and architecture developed from an early age. He attended the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts and graduated in 1928 before traveling to Europe on a state scholarship. In 1931, he designed the Turkish Pavilion for the Budapest International Fair as an example of modern Turkish architecture, which was greatly appreciated by those who visited the exhibition.

Over the course of the next few decades, Eldem became a prominent member of the architectural community. He led more than 20 significant building projects and published architectural researches including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Topkapi Palace. His distinct style, which blended both modern and traditional characteristics, earned him widespread acclaim. His keen eye and expertise of Ottoman designs gave his modern constructions an authentic, historical twist.

He was also a revered educator and writer who greatly influenced Turkey’s national style through both architectural progress and preservation.

Happy birthday, Sedad Hakki Eldem!

Visit the Google Arts & Culture collection for more information about Sedad Hakki Eldem life and works.

[9A]

Dec 16, 2023

Celebrating Arthur Beetson



This Doodle celebrates Indigenous Australian rugby league captain and coach Arthur Beetson, who is widely considered one of the greatest players in rugby history.

Beetson was born in Roma, Queensland in 1945 which is traditionally known as Gubbi Gubbi Country. His mother, a survivor of the Stolen Generation, was taken from her parents at 11 years old and forced to work as a domestic servant. Fearing that her children would suffer the same fate, she often hid Beetson and his siblings whenever a stranger’s car came close to their home.

Beetson fell in love with football as a child, and at 19, he was recruited to play for the Redcliffe Dolphins. Soon after, Redcliffe won the Brisbane premiership and Beetson was named club player of the year in 1965.

In 1973, when Beetson was appointed captain of the Kangaroos, the Australia National Rugby League team, it was a watershed moment for Indigenous representation: The government had only begun to recognize Indigenous people as Australian citizens six years earlier. Up until then, Indigenous communities were largely excluded from Australian society.

Beetson captained the Kangaroos to victory at the 1975 World Series, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players and leaders in Australian rugby league history. He continued to break new grounds throughout his four-decade career by playing in 14 test matches, four victorious World Club campaigns, 20 interstate matches, and 222 New South Wales Rugby League first-grade games. He also went on to coach for the Eastern Suburbs, Australia, Queensland, the Redcliffe Dolphins, and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. In 2003, Beetson was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame and added to the list of Immortals.

Thank you, Arthur Beetson, for helping level the playing field for Indigenous representation and being a sporting icon for all Australians.

[9A]

Mar 22, 2023

Julieta Lanteri's 150th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 150th birthday of Julieta Lanteri, an Italian Argentine doctor and the first woman to vote in Argentina and South America. She was a staunch advocate for women’s rights and worked tirelessly to improve healthcare.

Lanteri was born on this day in Italy in 1873. Her family emigrated to Argentina when she was six years old. She became the first woman to attend the National School of La Plata, then studied pharmacology at the University of Buenos Aires. She earned her medical degree in 1907 — she was one of the first five woman to do so in Argentina! For the next 13 years, Lanteri regularly traveled to Europe to work in hospitals and learn about healthcare for women and children.

Beyond her skills as a physician, Lanteri was also a suffragette. In 1910, she helped organize the first International Women’s Congress. The following year, she gained Argentine citizenship and became the first woman to vote in South America when she casted a ballot for the Deliberative Council elections. After this monumental achievement, the Electoral Law was changed to require military service — only men were allowed to enlist.

Despite the constant obstacles she faced, Lanteri did not back down. She created her own political party, the National Feminist Union, and ran for the position of National Deputy from 1919 to 1932. The party’s platform stood for universal suffrage, gender equality, fair working conditions, childcare support, maternity benefits, and more.

Argentine women were finally granted the official right to vote in 1947. Although she couldn’t witness it with her own eyes, Lanteri’s contributions undoubtedly helped make this dream a reality. Her fierce determination is remembered far and wide throughout South America.

Happy birthday, Julieta Lanteri!

[9A]

Mar 01, 2023

Celebrating Mickey Chen


Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Taiwan-based guest artist Dyin Li, celebrates Taiwanese filmmaker and activist Mickey Chen, who focused on telling stories from people that belonged to disenfranchised communities. On this day in 1999, his film Boys for Beauty became the first LGBTQ-themed documentary to be screened at a movie theater in Taiwan.

Chen, fascinated by cameras from a young age, started creating movies in college. At 30, he made his directorial debut with Not Simply a Wedding Banquet [1997], a documentary about the first gay couple to have a public wedding in Taipei. It explored the struggles that members of the LGBTQ+ community faced in Taiwan.

In 1999, Chen released Boys for Beauty, an eye-opening exposé that followed the lives of three gay teenagers from Taipei. The film took a bold stance against gender norms and showcased the societal pressures each subjects’ relatives endured. It was a box office success and a pivotal achievement for Taiwanese cinema.

Boys for Beauty won countless awards and film festival placements, most notably the Audience Award at the 2000 Taiwan International Documentary Festival. Chen gave an inspiring acceptance speech that praised the LGBTQ+ movement and invited several directors to join his on stage in an act of solidarity.

Chen wrote and directed many more documentaries such as Memorandum on Happiness [2003], Scars on Memory [2005], and Fragile in Love [2007]. He also published Taipei Father, New York Mother in 2011, a book about family tragedies that occurred during his youth. Throughout his career, Chen documented significant moments of LGBTQ+ history in Taiwan and opened the eyes of the public to them and Taiwan’s progressive LGBTQ+ societal views are a result of trailblazers like him.

[9A]

Sep 14, 2022

Rasuna Said's 112th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 112th birthday of Rasuna Said, remembered as the Lioness of the Indonesian Independence Movement. She was an influential voice on social issues, especially women’s rights, a teacher and a journalist. She was recognized as an Indonesian national hero, the ninth woman to receive the honor.

Rasuna was born near Lake Maninjau in West Sumatra on this day in 1910. From an early age, she was outspoken about the issues of the day. Her tenacity and intelligence as a student quickly paved her way to become an assistant teacher, who motivated young girls to dream big.

In 1926, Rasuna was invited to join the Sarikat Rakyat, or People’s Movement followed by Islamic Movement in 1930 which led her to organize the Persatuan Muslim Indonesia [PERMI] which was critical of Dutch colonialism and its unfair treatment of women.

In 1931, Rasuna moved to Padang to launch a women’s division in PERMI. It focused on opening literary schools for girls all throughout West Sumatra. In 1932, Rasuna was arrested for speaking out against Dutch rule. Thousands attended her trial in Payakumbuh in 1932. Her defense speech was inspiring and given without hesitation.

At 24, after her release from prison in 1934, Rasuna began her journalistic career and wrote for a college journal called Raya. Over the next few years, she opened up more schools for girls and spoke on behalf of countless Muslim women’s groups.

In 1945, after working tirelessly to instill nationalism and anti-colonialism through her writing, Indonesia gained its independence. In 1974, Rasuna was declared a National Hero of Indonesia for her services.

Happy birthday, Rasuna Said!