Google doodles

[9A]

July 28, 2018

Feroza Begum’s 88th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Bangladeshi singer Feroza Begum. During her lifetime, Begum achieved what many in society thought unthinkable for a female - becoming professionally trained in music, achieving a level of stardom and notoriety that was previously reserved for only male musicians.

Born to a Muslim family in 1930, Begum was drawn to music almost immediately as a child. At 10 years old, she became a student of Kazi Nazrul Islam, a poet who eventually went on to be the national poet of Bangladesh. Feroza’s voice and ability to convey deep emotion played an important role in popularizing Nazrul Sangeet [the songs written and composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam] throughout the country.

Begum released her first album at the age of 12 and went on to tour the world, performing in over 300 solo shows. Beloved by many, Feroza was awarded Bangladesh’s Independence Day Award in 1979, the highest honor an individual could receive in the newly independent country.

Today’s Doodle, painted on watercolor paper with colored inks by Doodler Olivia When, depicts Begum sharing her voice with her audience, surrounded by gold patterning commonly found on her album covers.

Happy 88th Birthday, Feroza Begum!

[9A]

July 28, 2015

Peru National Day 2015



Trek through the rough, scrubby terrain of the Peruvian Andes, and you’ll eventually come upon a vicuña. These llama-like mammals, legendary for their stunningly soft wool, were considered sacred in the eyes of the Incas.

Today, vicuñas are indigenous to not only the mountains, but also Peru’s coat of arms, where they symbolize the country’s diverse wildlife. And they hold a high place in Peruvian society as the country’s national animal. This mix of ancient reverence and modern pride inspired artist Robinson Wood for today’s Doodle — a celebration of independence for Peru National Day.

[9A]

July 28, 2017

Perú National Day 2017



June 28th is the first of two national holidays commemorating Perú's independence. The festivities begin in Lima with a presidential address, 21-cannon salute, and flag-raising ceremony. Regional celebrations include musical performances in plazas and parks, and street fairs offering delights like ceviche and pisco. And the red-and-white Perúvian flag flies above cities and countryside, saluting General José de San Martín's declaration of independence on this date in 1821.

Today's Doodle, by guest artist Elliot Tupac, captures Perú's breathtaking natural beauty — from the tiniest flutter of hummingbird wings to the soaring peaks of Machu Picchu.

Happy Fiestas Patrias!

[9A]

July 28, 2014

Peru Independence Day 2014





We’re serving ceviche for Peruvian Independence Day. The traditional [and totally yummy] seafood dish is made with raw fish cured in either lemon or lime juice.

[9A]

February 28, 2020

Marcel Pagnol's 125th Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates the 125th birthday of French filmmaker, playwright, and novelist Marcel Pagnol, often revered as one of the greatest figures in the history of French cinema. With his evocative, realist style, Pagnol painted a heartfelt and comical portrait of everyday French life, influencing generations of filmmakers in the process.

Marcel Paul Pagnol was born on this day in 1895 in the town of Aubagne, just outside of Marseilles in Southern France. He followed in the footsteps of his father, a local school superintendent, and pursued a career in education. In between lessons, Pagnol worked on his own plays, novels, and poetry, and when his comedic drama “Topaze” [1928] became a major hit on the Paris stage, he retired from teaching for good.

Establishing himself as an eminent playwright during cinema’s transformation from silent films to the sound era, Pagnol recognized a new world of opportunity in adapting his stories to the silver screen. By 1931, he had produced his first film, “Marius,” the leading installment of his famous “Marseilles” trilogy, which centered around life in the port town of his birth.

Credited as a pioneer of the neo-realist movement, Pagnol went on to direct and produce a collection of award-winning films, helping to shape French cinema’s golden decade of the 1930s and ‘40s.

In recognition of his contributions, in 1946, Pagnol became the first filmmaker ever elected as a member of the distinguished Acádemie française [“French Academy”], France’s official authority on the French language.

[9A]

Mar 4, 2010

Antonio Vivaldi's Birthday


Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, impresario, and Roman Catholic priest.

Born in Venice, the capital of the Venetian Republic, Vivaldi is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers. His influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe, giving origin to many imitators and admirers and was paramount in the development of Johann Sebastian Bach's instrumental music and the French concerto [Michel Corrette, Jean-Joseph de Mondonville, Louis-Nicholas Clérambault].

Vivaldi composed many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other musical instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than fifty operas. His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as the Four Seasons. Many of his compositions were written for the all-female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children. Vivaldi had worked as a Catholic priest for 18 months and was employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740. Vivaldi also had some success with expensive stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for royal support. However, the Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival, and Vivaldi himself died in poverty less than a year later.

After almost two centuries of decline, Vivaldi's musical reputation underwent a revival in the early 20th century, with much scholarly research devoted to his work. Many of Vivaldi's compositions, once thought lost, have been rediscovered – in one case as recently as 2006. His music remains widely popular in the present day and is regularly played all over the world.

[9A]

March 4, 2021

Rosa Sevilla de Alvero's 142nd Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the 142nd birthday of journalist, educator, and activist Rosa Sevilla de Alvero, who is widely considered one of the most influential suffragists in Filipino history.

Rosa Sevilla was born on this day in 1879 in Manila, the Philippines capital. As a child, she was sent to live with her aunt, an educator who hosted Filipino patriots and intellectuals at her home. Sevilla often eavesdropped on their conversations about battling educational colonialism—revolutionary discussions that helped mold her beliefs. At just 21, Alvero founded the Instituto de Mujeres [“Women’s Institute”] of Manila, one of the first schools for women in Filipino history.

The institute became a hotbed for progress under Sevilla’s leadership—educating women on topics such as suffrage, vocation and Tagalog. She also collaborated with notable Filipino Tagalog poets to present the first balagtasan [a debate held in poetic verse], which sparked a movement for Tagalog to become the national language. With her institution in good hands, Sevilla left Manila in 1916 to rally women across the country in her fight for suffrage, later founding the Liga Nacional de Damas Filipinas [“National League of Filipino Women”] to support her cause.

Thanks in part to Sevilla’s tremendous call to action, voting rights were granted to Filipino women in 1937. Today, Sevilla’s Instituto de Mujeres lives on in her legacy as the Rosa Sevilla Memorial School.

Happy birthday, Rosa Sevilla de Alvero!

[9A]

March 4, 2016

42nd Anniversary of Rio-Niteroi Bridge Opening




Completed 42 years ago today, Brazil’s Rio–Niterói Bridge beautifully exemplifies the ingenuity of the human spirit. It met with great international praise when it opened in 1974 as the second-longest bridge in the world, spanning the vast Guanabara Bay. Guest Doodler Patrick Leger has crafted a lovely recreation of the bridge on the bay with the Brazilian coast visible in the background.

At 13.29 km [8.3 mi], it remains the longest bridge in Latin America and one of the longest in the world. On the day it opened it was second only to the near-infinite Lake Pontchartrain Bridge in Louisiana [38.35 km, 28.3 miles long].

But this structure’s greatest accomplishment is connection. Carrying over 100,000 passengers daily, it unites Nieterói and Rio de Janeiro, cities with populations of 487,000 and 6.5 million respectively. With that kind of impact, the Rio–Niterói Bridge reminds us that nothing lies beyond the reaches of the human imagination.

[9A]

July 2, 2018

World Cup 2018 - Day 18




The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is underway! Over the next month, players from the men's national teams of 32 countries will compete for top rank across 12 venues in 11 cities around the country. With a total of 64 matches [and plenty of GOOOALS!], the games will culminate at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15.


This year's Doodle series celebrates the rich cultures and talent of all 32 participating countries by featuring guest artists hailing from each nation! Tune in to catch all 32 Doodles throughout the games, each illustrating the artist's interpretation of "What ⚽looks like in my country."

[9A]

July 2, 2018

Athos Bulcão’s 100th Birthday




Today’s Doodle is rendered in the style of one of Brazil’s great public artists, Athos Bulcão, who would have been 100 years old today. Born in Rio De Janeiro, Bulcão was trained as a doctor but fell in love with art. His change of career transformed the visual landscape of Brazil with his vibrant and colorful tile designs.

Bulcão also designed album covers and book jackets, but is best known for his work on large-scale surfaces including hallways, auditoriums, and outdoor walls. He approached his work with an open mind and a playful spirit, unconcerned about having the last word. One of his trademark mosaic techniques involved creating a variety of abstract geometric tiles, then hiring construction teams to install them without any instructions.

Working closely with Oscar Niemayer, the main architect of Brasília, and city planner Lucio Costa, Bulcão helped realize their vision of the city as a work of art unto itself. Built from the ground up in 1956, Brasília replaced Rio De Janeiro as the Brazil’s capital in 1960. Today it stands as a definitive example of “tropical modernism,” with Bulcão’s artwork integrated into many of the buildings and public areas.

Later in life Bulcão infused Brazilian embassies, hospitals, theaters, schools, and homes with his vivid designs. His legacy lives on through the Fundação Athos Bulcão, created in Brasília in 1992 to document, preserve, and promote his work, as well as to facilitate education for young artists.

Happy birthday Athos Bulcão! Feliz Aniversário!

[9A]

Jul 3, 2013

Franz Kafka's 130th Birthday



Franz Kafka was a German-speaking Bohemian novelist and short-story writer, widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. His work fuses elements of realism and the fantastic. It typically features isolated protagonists facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible socio-bureaucratic powers. It has been interpreted as exploring themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt, and absurdity. His best known works include "Die Verwandlung" ["The Metamorphosis"], Der Process [The Trial], and Das Schloss [The Castle]. The term Kafkaesque has entered English to describe situations like those found in his writing.

Few of Kafka's works were published during his lifetime: the story collections Betrachtung [Contemplation] and Ein Landarzt [A Country Doctor], and individual stories [such as "Die Verwandlung"] were published in literary magazines but received little public attention. In his will, Kafka instructed his executor and friend Max Brod to destroy his unfinished works, including his novels Der Process, Das Schloss and Der Verschollene [translated as both Amerika and The Man Who Disappeared], but Brod ignored these instructions. His work has influenced a vast range of writers, critics, artists, and philosophers during the 20th and 21st centuries.

[9A]

Jul 1, 2013

Alhazen's 1048th Birthday




Ḥasan Ibn al-Haytham [Latinized as Alhazen] was a Muslim Arab mathematician, astronomer, and physicist of the Islamic Golden Age. Referred to as "the father of modern optics", he made significant contributions to the principles of optics and visual perception in particular. His most influential work is titled Kitāb al-Manāẓir [ "Book of Optics"], written during 1011–1021, which survived in a Latin edition. A polymath, he also wrote on philosophy, theology and medicine.

Ibn al-Haytham was the first to explain that vision occurs when light reflects from an object and then passes to one's eyes. He was also the first to demonstrate that vision occurs in the brain, rather than in the eyes. Ibn al-Haytham was an early proponent of the concept that a hypothesis must be supported by experiments based on confirmable procedures or mathematical evidence—an early pioneer in the scientific method five centuries before Renaissance scientists.

[9A]

Jun 29, 2013

The 100th Tour de France




The illustration for the 100th Tour De France seemed like a great opportunity to unify design, illustration and animation. From rough drawings to finished animation the choices boiled down to combining 2 key views of a rider. At one point there was no bike at all!

Concerning the event itself the illustration was a great opportunity to take the tour back in time to an era of moustaches and wheel tubing over shoulders! It's a moving graphic that points to the future yet recognises the nostalgia and heritage of early 20th century tour posters.

Posted by Matthew Cruickshank, Doodler

[9A]

Jul 4, 2013

Ukichiro Nakaya's 113th Birthday




Ukichiro Nakaya was a Japanese physicist and science essayist known for his work in glaciology and low-temperature sciences. He is credited with making the first artificial snowflakes.

[9A]

Jul 4, 2013

Pedro Nel Gómez's 114th Birthday



Pedro Nel Gómez Agudelo was a Colombian engineer, painter, and sculptor, best known for his work as a muralist, and for starting, along with Santiago Martinez Delgado, the Colombian Muralist Movement, inspired by the Mexican movement that drew on nationalistic, social, and political messages as subjects.

One of Colombia's most prolific and prominent artists of his time, Gómez created 2,200 square meters of fresco murals in public buildings.

[9A]

July 7, 2016

Tanabata 2016




Tanabata, known to children and families all over Japan, honors the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, forbidden to see each other except on this day. The two were brought together by Orihime's father, but then separated when Orihime no longer had time to weave the beautiful cloth that her father loved so much. He gave in when he saw how unhappy she was, and allowed Orihime and Hikoboshi to see each other once a year if she wove the cloth the rest of the days. Whether they are able to meet on this the 7th day of the 7th month, is determined by the weather.

On this day, we write down our own wishes on colorful paper [known as tanzaku] as we hope for the two lovers to meet. Today’s Doodle honors the Tanabata tradition with its own tanzaku for Orihime and Hikoboshi. May they meet again this year!

[9A]

July 7, 2013

Tanabata [Star Festival]

[9A]

July 7, 2020

Tanabata 2020





Today’s Doodle celebrates Tanabata, an annual Japanese tradition that commemorates the fabled reunion of two celestial lovers kept apart by the vast expanse of the Milky Way.

First observed in Japan’s imperial courts as early as the 8th century, Tanabata is derived from a Chinese myth which dates back several millennia. The story tells of a troubled romance between a princess and weaver named Orihime and a cow herder named Hikoboshi, depicted in the Doodle artwork. Once wed, the couple began to shirk the duties of their work, and as punishment they were cast away to opposite sides of the galaxy by the bride’s father. He allowed them to meet just once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.

Look up today and hope for clear skies! According to the legend, the two star-crossed lovers can only meet if the weather is fair.

Happy Tanabata!

[9A]

December 14, 2018

Dolores Olmedo’s 110th Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Dolores Olmedo, a close friend of Diego Rivera and owner of the world’s most important private collection of the modernist master’s work—as well as several xoloitzcuintles, the Mexican hairless dogs she adored. Olmedo also acquired many paintings by Rivera’s wife, Frida Kahlo, and donated her collection to the people of Mexico, where it is displayed in her former home. “I lived with this art for most of my life,'' she said. “Who knows better than me how it should be displayed?”

Born in Mexico City on this day in 1913, Dolores Olmedo was 17 years old when she visited the Ministry of Education with her mother, who worked as a schoolteacher. On the elevator, they bumped into Rivera, who was painting murals in the building. He asked Olmedo’s mother if he could make some sketches of her. The artist completed 27 sketches of Olmedo and established a lifelong connection.

During the 1940s, Olmedo—also known as Doña Lola—went on to become a successful real estate developer, one of the first Mexican women to excel in the field. During Rivera’s final years in the 1950s, he moved into Olmedo’s estate in Xochimilco, a neighborhood in the southern part of Mexico City. The artist sold her dozens of his own paintings and drawings, as well as 25 paintings by Kahlo, in hopes that the work would remain in their homeland. OImedo also oversaw both artists’ estates.

The Museo Dolores Olmedo opened in September 1994, inside her sixteenth-century stone residence, formerly known as the Hacienda La Noria. The museum is also a centerpoint for Day of the Dead celebrations as Olmedo would often organize an ofrenda, or altar, in honor of Diego Rivera. The museum’s collection includes a wide range of Rivera’s works over the many decades of his career as well as the world’s largest collection of Kahlo paintings and illustrations by Angelina Beloff, who worked with Rivera in Europe during the early 20th century. The work is displayed in an intimate setting, amidst Olmedo’s personal furnishings and peacocks strolling through gardens. ''I will always defend his work energetically,'' she wrote about Rivera in her museum's catalog, and she has stood by her word.

Feliz cumpleaños, Doña Lola!


Doodle by Sophie Diao

[9A]

December 14, 2012


Xul Solar's 125th Birthday





Xul Solar was the adopted name of Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari [December 14, 1887 – April 9, 1963], Argentine painter, sculptor, writer, and inventor of imaginary languages.

[9A]

Dec 7, 2016

Abd al-Rahman Al-Sufi's [Azophi] 1113th Birthday



Abd al-Rahman Al-Sufi forever changed the way we look at the stars in the sky. As one of the world’s most influential astronomers, he dedicated his life to furthering our understanding of the stars and constellations. The lunar crater "Azophi" and the minor planet "12621 Alsufi" are named after him.

One of Al-Sufi's greatest works involved fact-checking the Greek astronomer Ptolemy's measurements of the brightness and size of stars. In the year 964 AD, Al-Sufi published his findings in a book titled Kitab al-Kawatib al-Thabit al-Musawwar, or The Book of Fixed Stars. In many cases, he confirmed Ptolemy’s discoveries, but he also improved upon his work by illustrating the constellations and correcting some of Ptolemy’s observations about the brightness of stars.

Today's Doodle celebrates Al-Sufi on what would be his 1,113th birthday with a representation of the constellation Cancer, also known as “the crab.” The artwork closely mirrors what appeared in Al-Sufi’s manuscript, The Book of Fixed Stars.The words around the crabs indicate the cardinal directions of North, South, East, and West, with the smaller labels providing additional assistance in viewing the constellations.

More than a millennium later, Al-Sufi's keen observations and detailed work still informs our view of the night sky.

[9A]

Dec 12, 2016

Kenya Independence Day 2016



Kenya Independence Day, observed on December 12th, is one of the East African nation’s most momentous national holidays, commemorated with political speeches, feasts, marching bands, and Kenyan dancers dressed in brightly colored traditional costumes.

Kenyans have double reason to celebrate today. It was on this pivotal day in 1963 that the former colony won its long-awaited freedom from British rule, and exactly one year later, was admitted into the Commonwealth as a republic. Fittingly, Independence Day is also known as Jamhuri Day—”Jamhuri” is Swahili for “Republic.”

With independence came a new flag for Kenya. Colored in black, red and green and bearing a Maasai warrior’s shield and spears, the flag is emblematic of its African people, their fight for freedom, and the country’s natural resources. The tricolor flag is also a touchstone for the Maasai people’s iconic beadwork bracelets, beloved by locals, and the inspiration for today’s Doodle—a nod to the significance of Jamhuri and Kenya’s distinctive cultural identity.

[9A]

December 12, 2018

Kenya Independence Day 2018




Today’s Doodle celebrates the Kenyan Independence Day, also known as Jamhuri Day—after the Swahili word for “republic.” On this day in 1963, Kenya became a sovereign nation, independent of British rule. Exactly one year later it was officially admitted into the Commonwealth of Nations as a republic led by president Jomo Kenyatta.

The national flag, designed shortly after Kenya gained its independence, features a traditional Masai warrior shield and two spears. The black band represents Kenya’s people, the red represents the battle for freedom, the green represents the richness of the land, while the white symbolizes peace.

Jamhuri Day is one of Kenya's most important holidays. Proud citizens of the East African nation, known for its rich folklore, scenic landscapes, and abundant wildlife, take time off from work and school on this day to dance and feast on favorite foods like ugali [corn meal] and nyama choma [grilled meat]. In the capital city of Nairobi, political speeches and parades honor the country's cultural heritage. A time for Kenyans to express gratitude for their freedom, Jamhuri Day brings families together and encourages unity in the community.

Happy Jamhuri Day, Kenya!

[9A]

December 12, 2011

Kenya Independence Day




Harambee is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, e.g. fundraising or development activities. The word means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is the official motto of Kenya, appearing on its coat of arms. The word was assimilated into the Swahili language from Hindi at the time of the building of the Uganda Railway from Mombasa to Kampala

[9A]

Dec 15, 2011

Friedensreich Hundertwasser's 83rd Birthday




Friedrich Stowasser, better known by his pseudonym Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser, was an Austrian visual artist and architect who also worked in the field of environmental protection.

Hundertwasser stood out as an opponent of "a straight line" and any standardization, expressing this concept in the field of building design. His best known work is the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, which has become a notable place of interest in the Austrian capital, characterised by imaginative vitality and uniqueness.

[9A]

December 15, 2014

40th anniversary of the Cycleway program




Ciclovía, also ciclovia or cyclovia, is a Spanish term that means "cycleway", either a permanent bike path or the closing of certain streets to automobiles for cyclists and pedestrians, a practice sometimes called open streets.

Each Sunday and public holiday from 7 am until 2 pm certain main streets of Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and other municipalities are blocked off to cars allowing runners, skaters, and bicyclists to workout in a more comfortable environment. At the same time, stages are set up in city parks. Aerobics instructors, yoga teachers and musicians lead people through various performances. The great variety of traditional food and drinks offered in snack stalls motivates many locals and tourists to go around the Ciclovía. Bogotá's weekly ciclovías are used by approximately 2 million people [about 30% of the population] on over 120 km of car-free streets.

[9A]

Dec 16, 2014

Wassily Kandinsky's 148th Birthday





Today, our homepage around the world marks the 148th birthday of influential Russian painter Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky. Kandinsky is credited with painting the first purely abstract work of art.

This Google doodle was inspired by the work of Wassily Kandinsky and was used with special permission of the Estate of Wassily Kandinsky, which is represented by Artist Rights Society.

[9A]

Dec 11, 2014

Annie Jump Cannon's 151st Birthday





American astronomer Annie Jump Cannon spent her life studying the night sky. Today our homepage in the U.S. is gazing at the stars Cannon loved so much for her 151st birthday. A pioneer in astronomy, Cannon developed the Harvard Classification Scheme with Edward C. Pickering, which organized and categorized stars based on their temperatures.

[9A]

Dec 3, 2014

Anna Freud's 119th Birthday





Take a peek inside the mind of psychoanalyst Anna Freud for her 119th birthday. As the daughter of famed neurologist Sigmund Freud, Anna followed her father’s footsteps into the field and is recognized as the founder of psychoanalytic child psychology.

[9A]

Nov 24, 2014

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec's 150th Birthday



French painter Henri de Toulouse Lautrec was a man who immersed himself in the color and theatrics of life. True to his spirit, Lautrec’s artwork portrayed the grandeur and excitement of the world he lived in.

When doodler Jennifer Hom was tasked with making a doodle for the renowned artist’s 150th birthday, she immediately looked to his work for inspiration.
Wanting to capture what essentially was the Golden Age of Paris, Jennifer focused her design around the iconic imagery of the Can-can Dancers and the lithograph style, symbols that best embodied the lively spirit of the “La Belle Époque” [“The Beautiful Era”]. The fluid-like forms of the dancers revealed the sense of joy and freedom that was characteristic of the time period.

As a final touch, Jennifer incorporated the portrait of Lautrec into the doodle to reference another of one of his posters. Surely a man who is remembered for his provocative and engaging imagery of Parisian nightlife has a place alongside his illustrations that have captivated the world for decades.

[9A]

Nov 20, 2014

Corita Kent's 96th Birthday




American nun and artist Corita Kent said it best with her quote, “To understand is to stand under which is to look up to which is a good way to understand.” Kent gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s with her artwork that featured messages of love and peace. Today, we mark her 96th birthday.

[9A]

March 27, 2019

Raúl Soldi’s 114th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the Argentinian artist Raúl Soldi, who was born in Buenos Aires on this day in 1905. From painting watercolors and church frescos to designing mosaics, theatrical costumes, stage sets, and even department store windows, his creativity spanned mediums.

The son of a cellist and opera singer, Soldi was inspired to devote his life to art after traveling through Europe in his youth. He spent five years studying in Milan, supporting himself by making illustrations for advertisements before returning to Argentina where he found work painting sets for the movie studio Argentina Sono Film and designing window displays for Harrod’s. Along the way, he also showed his work in Paris, New York, and San Francisco.

While studying scenery design in the U.S., Soldi met his future wife, Estela Gaitán, who encouraged him to devote himself to fine art. In 1953, he was commissioned to paint frescoes at the church of Santa Ana in Buenos Aires, followed by the Colón Theater in 1966. He was also commissioned to create mosaics in various churches and public spaces.

Recognized in his country and globally, a 1992 retrospective at Argentina’s Palais de Glace attracted some 500,000 visitors and his work was honored with an award at the 1958 Biennale of São Paulo, Brazil. His art can be found in many international collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Happy 114th Birthday, Raúl Soldi!

[9A]

November 8, 2021

Professor Okoth Okombo's 71st Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Kenya-based guest artist Joe Impressions, celebrates the 71st birthday of acclaimed Kenyan professor and author Okoth Okombo, an eminent researcher of Nilotic linguistics [from the Nile River region] who is widely considered the founder of African sign language studies.

Duncan Okoth Okombo was born on November 8, 1950 in Kaswanga, a village on the remote Kenyan island of Rusinga. As a member of the Omusuba tribe raised during a time of British colonial rule, Okombo witnessed firsthand how the elevation of the English language eroded his ethnic identity by pushing his mother tongue of Olusuba to near extinction. These experiences inspired Okombo’s lifelong mission to preserve indigenous African heritage through academia with a major focus on educating children in their native languages.

While pursuing his linguistics doctorate in 1983, Okombo published Masira ki Ndaki [“Misfortune is Inevitable”] in Dholuo, which is considered one of the first novels published in a Kenyan language. He continued to pass down his expertise as a professor of linguistics and literature at his alma mater of the University of Nairobi, where Okombo founded the Kenyan Sign Language [KSL] Research Project in 1991. This project led to the widespread adoption of KSL across Kenya, allowing the nation’s deaf community to secure new opportunities in society.

For his achievements, the World Federation of the Deaf elected Okombo as its international president from 1992 to 1995. Today, Okombo’s students remember him as a great listener, storyteller, and even a great dancer as his legacy lives on in the ongoing advocacy work of the Kenyan Sign Language Research Project.

Happy birthday, Professor Okombo!

[9A]

November 8, 2021

Dr. Kamal Ranadive's 104th Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by India-based guest artist Ibrahim Rayintakath, celebrates Indian cell biologist Dr. Kamal Ranadive on her 104th birthday. Ranadive is best known for her groundbreaking cancer research and devotion to creating a more equitable society through science and education.

Kamal Samarath, better known as Kamal Ranadive, was born on this day in 1917 in Pune, India. Her father’s encouragement to pursue a medical education inspired Ranadive to excel academically, but she found her calling in biology instead. In 1949, she received a doctorate in cytology, the study of cells, while working as a researcher in the Indian Cancer Research Center [ICRC]. After a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, she returned to Mumbai [then Bombay] and the ICRC, where she established the country’s first tissue culture laboratory.

As the director of the ICRC and a pioneer in animal modeling of cancer development, Ranadive was among the first researchers in India to propose a link between breast cancer and heredity and to identify the links among cancers and certain viruses. Continuing this trailblazing work, Ranadive studied Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, and aided in developing a vaccine. In 1973, Dr. Ranadive and 11 colleagues founded the Indian Women Scientists’ Association [IWSA] to support women in scientific fields.

Ranadive fervently encouraged students and Indian scholars abroad to return to India and put their knowledge to work for their communities. After retiring in 1989, Dr. Ranadive worked in rural communities in Maharashtra, training women as healthcare workers and providing health and nutrition education. The IWSA now has 11 chapters in India and provides scholarships and childcare options for women in science. Dr. Ranadive’s dedication to health justice and education remains influential to her students who work as scientists today.

Happy birthday, Dr. Kamal Ranadive!

[9A]

January 19, 2016

Sophie Taeuber-Arp’s 127th Birthday







Gracing the face of every Swiss 50 franc bill is the straightforward gaze of a dark-eyed woman. Behind this serious portrait lies one of Switzerland's most colorful artists: Sophie Taeuber-Arp, whose 127th birthday we celebrate today!

Taeuber-Arp was a Swiss artist, designer, architect and dancer. Notably, she’s one of the most important artists of geometric abstraction – her minimalistic style, which is reflected in her textile artwork, marionettes, interiors, drawings, paintings, reliefs and sculptures, makes her distinguished amongst other artists of the early 20th century. Together with her husband, Dadaist artist Hans Arp, she permanently moved to France in the late 1920’s.

Today’s doodle, by artist Mark Holmes, was a grand artistic experiment in itself. In his words:

‘Doodling’ other artists gives us the chance to truly appreciate their work through the study and deconstruction of their art. Our challenge, of course, is to reinterpret the work and integrate it with our ubiquitous ‘Google’ in a manner that remains faithful to the artist’s spirit without being a simple reproduction of their work, or so modified that it is unrecognizable. The rough drafts below, featuring my ‘doodled’ versions to the left and her original works to the right, should give a sense of the challenge in balancing legibility with the spirit of authenticity.

This was an especially fun doodle because Sophie Taeuber-Arp was such a prolific and diverse artist. I almost couldn’t make up my mind which of her works to draw inspiration from, and I just wanted to keep going. Hopefully in the end, I was able to capture the spirit of at least one aspect of her work, and help draw a few more eyeballs to her many contributions to the arts.

Taeuber-Arp’s legacy has lived on through international exhibitions, including one co-created by the Google Cultural Institute and New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Visit this online exhibit dedicated to this Swiss master of modernism.

This doodle was made by Mark Holmes.

[9A]

January 19, 2016

José Alfredo Jiménez’s 90th Birthday





Today’s homepage features the beloved Mexican folk musician José Alfredo Jiménez, who was born in the state of Guanajuato on January 19th, 1926. The astoundingly prolific mariachi, whose songs have rung out at parties and mended broken hearts for over half a century, would have celebrated his 90th birthday today. Feliz cumpleaños, José.

[9A]

January 19, 2011

Cezanne's 172nd Birthday





I became a huge fan of Cezanne's work during a trip through Europe a while back. A little burnt out on all the Renaissance art from the past ten museums or so, my wife and I stepped into a retrospective of his work in Florence. I had never seen his work except in terribly reproduced copies or books. Seeing his palette in "person" for the first time transformed my own perception of color. He was especially great at playing with shapes – maybe not so much an artist who broke rules inasmuch as he made precise fractures with the unique punch of his brush against the canvas. Needless to say, when the opportunity to celebrate Cezanne with a doodle arose, I knew I wasn't allowed to mess it up!

A very early concept for the Cezanne doodle. Digital. Notice the placement of the L and G are swapped... I messed up.

With that said, there was no way I was going to be able to paint a doodle digitally and feel like the doodle team did Cezanne any justice! So I broke out the oil paints and went at it on canvas instead.

Some process images, details, and the final. Oil on canvas. 18x36 inches.

I learned a great deal more trying to recreate his style and unique brushstroke. I'd have to copy a hundred more to get it right, but it was still a very rewarding experience. I hope it inspires some of you to visit a museum to see his work in person.

posted by Mike Dutton

[9A]

Nov 8, 2021

Celebrating Roehana Koeddoes




Today’s Doodle celebrates Indonesian educator and journalist Roehana Koeddoes, a lifelong champion of women’s equality and freedom of expression. For her pioneering achievements, the Indonesian government named her a national hero on this day in 2019.

Roehana Koeddoes was born Siti Roehana on December 20, 1884 in the small city of Koto Gadang, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies [now Indonesia]. Raised during an era when Indonesian women were generally excluded from formal education, she developed a love for reading by consuming the pages of a local newspaper and sharing local news with her friends by the age of seven. In 1911, she formalized her career in education with the establishment of the first school in Indonesia specifically geared toward women.

Founded in her hometown, Koeddoes’ school empowered women through a range of programs, from teachings in Arabic literacy to morality. She broadened her impact following a move to Bukittinggi, a larger West Sumatran city, by becoming one of Indonesia’s first women journalists. Here, she played a key role in the pioneering women’s newspaper “Soenting Melajoe.” As the first of its kind in Indonesia, this publication directly inspired the development of several other influential Indonesian women’s newspapers.

Throughout her career, Koeddoes continued to pen articles that encouraged women to stand up for equality and fight against colonialism, with some achieving national recognition. Thanks in part to trailblazers like Koeddoes, many consider women in Indonesian journalism to be more critical and courageous than ever.

Here’s to a pioneer whose impacts continue to shape Indonesian media today—Roehana Koeddoes!

[9A]

Nov 11, 2016

Veterans Day 2016





Today’s Doodle honors the contributions and sacrifices of Veterans and their families across the country. Doodler and veteran Diana Tran shares what this day means for her:

Veterans Day is always special for me. Every year on this day, I spend a little extra time reflecting on my service in the United States Marine Corps. I remember the moments when the task placed before me seemed impossible. Whether that task was traversing an obstacle in training or making it through a mission in Iraq, there was one constant that gave me confidence and strength. I knew that the men and women next to me had my back and together we were focused on achieving our goal. There was comfort in that camaraderie that I haven't experienced anywhere else.

The artwork for today's doodle was created by Doodler Olivia When in collaboration with myself and the network of veterans at Google. She's done a wonderful job of capturing the celebratory and inclusive nature of Veterans Day. Today, I hope you'll join us in honoring our veterans who sacrificed so that we can enjoy our freedom.

To all veterans everywhere, thank you for your service.

Diana Tran, Doodle Designer
United States Marine Corps [2004-2010]

[9A]

Nov 17, 2016

Elisabeth "Ellis" Kaut's 96th Birthday



Who's that little goblin lighting the birthday cake? The impish Pumuckl, created by Elisabeth "Ellis" Kaut, has been playfully causing mischief since 1962. Pumuckl is a kobold, a kind of sprite based in German folklore. He constantly gets into trouble but never intends any real harm. Kaut, who would be 96 today, wrote more than 100 Pumuckl stories. She received several awards and honors for her work, including the prestigious Bavarian Poetentaler literary award.

Today's Doodle was created by Barbara von Johnson, who became the primary Pumuckl illustrator in Kaut's books after winning a competition at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts in 1963.

[9A]

November 18, 2016

James Welch's 76th Birthday




Today’s Doodle by artist Sophie Diao pays tribute to James Welch, the Blackfeet writer, on what would be his 76th birthday. Through his novels, documentary film, and poems, Welch gave voice to the struggles and humanity of the Native American experience in the United States.

Thirty years ago, Welch published his best known work, Fools Crow, the story of the Blackfeet people during the period of post-civil war encroachment by Europeans. In this award-winning novel, the Blackfeet seek to continue traditional ways, and to avoid both contact and conflict. As a whole, Welch’s works emphasized the humanity of native peoples and their deep attachment to their homelands. He was considered an early part of what was later dubbed the Native American Renaissance, during which native writers celebrated tribal culture and revealed its complex problems in works readily accessible to the larger American public.

Welch, who as a young man described himself as an "Indian who writes," gained an international audience. His works were appreciated universally for both their artistic appeal and ability to bring the experiences of the Native American people to life.

Here’s to James -- thank you for your contributions!

[9A]

Nov 19, 2013

Helena Zmatlíková's 90th Birthday





Helena Zmatlíková was a Czech illustrator, especially of children's books. For her works she received numerous awards. She also participated in the 1958 World Exhibition.

[9A]

November 19, 2014

Ofra Haza's 57th Birthday




Our homepage in Israel features a portrait of singer Ofra Haza for her 57th birthday. Popular in both her homeland and countries across the Middle East, Haza gained wider international recognition after she won second place in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest.

[9A]

November 20, 2013

Selma Lagerlöf's 155th Birthday




Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author and teacher. She published her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she was awarded in 1909. Additionally, she was the first woman to be granted a membership in the Swedish Academy in 1914.

[9A]

Dec 10, 2012

Ada Lovelace's 197th Birthday






Augusta Ada King, countess of Lovelace, along with her counterpart Charles Babbage, were pioneers in computing long before the first computer was built. Despite being an uncommon pedagogy for women, Ada was educated in mathematics because her mother hoped would mitigate in Ada her father's, Lord Byron's, penchant for poetry and mania [it didn’t].

While Babbage drew up designs for the first general-purpose computer, which he called the Analytic Engine, he only imagined it would be a powerful calculator. Lovelace, however, anticipated the much more impressive possibilities for such a machine. She realized the engine could represent not just numbers, but generic entities like words and music. This intellectual leap is the foundation of how we experience computers today, from the words on this screen to the colors and shapes in this doodle.

In 1843, Ada published extensive notes on the Analytic Engine which included the first published sequence of operations for a computer, which she would have input to the Analytic Engine using punch cards. It is this program for calculating Bernoulli numbers which leads some to consider Ada Lovelace the world’s first computer programmer, as well as a visionary of the computing age.

Posted by Ida Mayer, Googler

[9A]

December 8, 2019

Camille Claudel’s 155th Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Paris-based artists Icinori, celebrates French sculptor Camille Claudel on her 155th birthday. Facing many challenges as a woman in art, Claudel’s determination pushed her to continually break gender molds and create even in the face of adversity.

Born in Fère-en-Tardenois, Claudel began experimenting with clay as a child. At age 12, her father organized a visit from established sculptor Alfred Boucher, who took notice of Claudel’s burgeoning skills and advised Claudel to move to Paris to study art. Enrolling at the Académie Colarossi, Claudel worked on honing her craft before a fateful 1882 meeting with Boucher’s friend, renowned sculptor Auguste Rodin.

Claudel began training under Rodin in 1884, learning about his method of observing profiles and the importance of capturing expressions. Her sculptures, however, also had an impact on Rodin. For instance, her 1886 piece, “Jeune fille à la gerbe,” is widely considered to have inspired Rodin’s “Galatea,” completed a few years later.

Claudel and Rodin became romantically involved, resulting in two personally revealing sculptures, Persée et la Gorgone [Perseus and the Gorgon] and L'Âge mûr [The Age of Maturity]. The former features a self-portrait of Claudel as the Gorgon Medusa and has often been interpreted as a contemplation of the uphill battle for recognition that she faced in her artistic career. Both pieces coincided with the end of their relationship in 1893.

Much of Claudel’s work resides in Musée Camille Claudel in Nogent-sur-Seine, which opened in 2017. Here, art lovers from around the world continue to appreciate Claudel’s oeuvre.

Happy birthday, Camille Claudel!

[9A]

Dec 17, 2011

Josef Lada's 124th Birthday



Josef Lada was a Czech painter, illustrator and writer. He is best known as the illustrator of Jaroslav Hašek's World War I novel The Good Soldier Švejk, having won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1963.

The asteroid 17625 Joseflada has been named after him.

Lada produced nearly 600 cartoons of the Švejk characters, depicting Austria-Hungary officers and civil servants as incompetent, abusive and often drunk.

[9A]

November 25, 2020

Celebrating Tino Sidin




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Indonesian-American guest artist Shanti Rittgers, celebrates the 95th birthday of Indonesian artist and teacher Tino Sidin. Lovingly known as Pak Tino [Sir Tino], Sidin became a household name through his television series Gemar Menggambar [Like to Draw], on which he taught a generation of young children how to draw and nurture their creative talents. Fittingly, November 25 is also recognized in Indonesia as National Teachers' Day in commemoration of the establishment of the Indonesian Teachers’ Association on this date in 1945.

Tino Sidin was born on this day in 1925 in Tebing Tinggi in North Sumatra, now a province of Indonesia. He first began teaching in his hometown during his 20s and in 1960 travelled to Yogyakarta–among the country’s cultural hubs–to attend the pioneering Indonesian Academy of Arts [now the Indonesian Art Institute]. In 1969, Gemar Menggambar first premiered on the local TV station TVRI Yogyakarta, and in 1979 it made the leap onto Indonesian national television.

Every Sunday afternoon for the next decade, Pak Tino introduced countless children to the fun and joy of drawing. Like countless teachers celebrated across the country today, Sidin nurtured his young students through positive encouragement. He inspired the students to not be afraid to make mistakes, and he uplifted the children who viewed the show nationwide, showing support for their submitted artwork with his signature catchphrase “Ya, bagus” [“Yes, it’s nice”]. An accomplished artist off camera as well, Sidin’s own work was often inspired by daily life; one of his paintings, Empat Anak Main, [Four Children Play] for example, depicts four of his daughters.

In 2017, a museum was founded at Sidin’s former residence in Yogyakarta, immortalizing the legacy of Indonesia’s beloved teaching artist.

Happy Birthday to an educator who helped spark creativity and draw a brighter future for generations of Indonesian children, and thank you to all of the teachers who have tirelessly fostered the next generation!

[9A]

November 25, 2019

Ani Idrus’ 101st Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates fearless Indonesian journalist and activist Ani Idrus on her 101st birthday. Co-founding one of the longest-running Indonesian daily newspapers in 1947 and still active today, Waspada, Idrus became a leading force in the nation’s journalism, education, and politics.

Born on this day in 1918 in Western Sumatra, Idrus’ life left a wake of tremendous change. Establishing herself as a journalist in the 1930s, she went on to publish Waspada just before Indonesia’s independence from the Dutch. Idrus also served as a foreign correspondent for over a decade before releasing the first edition of a popular women’s magazine. In 1988, in recognition of her accomplishments in journalism, Idrus won the Satya Press Award.

As a member of the Young Indonesia political movement, Idrus’ activism continued to develop. She attended Indonesia’s First Women’s Congress, which led her to chair the North Sumatra Women's Front and became Deputy Secretary-General of the North Sumatra National Front.

Closely tied to Idrus’ dedication to causes that benefited Indonesian women was her push to improve education throughout the country. Her impact on the education system is marked by the opening of eight schools, the establishment of the Ani Idrus Education Foundation [YPAI], as well as her service as Chairperson of the Waspada Soccer School.

Commemorated with a stamp in 2004, Idrus’ life encapsulates her mission to improve the lives of Indonesians throughout the archipelago, especially those of women and children. It may be impossible to know just how many lives were positively affected by her tireless efforts in journalism, education, or politics, but her work stands as a monument to her principles.

[9A]

Dec 4, 2019

Professor Rapee Sagarik’s 97th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates horticulturalist and botanist Professor Sagarik on the 97th anniversary of his birth in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand—a country that is home to nearly 1,300 native species of orchid.

Widely known as the “father of Thai orchids,” Professor Sagarik was also later president at Bangkok’s Kasetsart University and also served on the Faculty of Agriculture at Maejo University in the northern city of Chiang Mai. He is widely considered Thailand’s foremost expert in the breeding and conservation of these delicate, beautiful plants.

Once considered an exclusive pastime for the wealthy, orchid-growing became more accessible thanks in part to Professor Sagarik’s research and education efforts. He founded the Orchid Society of Thailand in 1957 and later became a regular speaker at the World Orchid Conference. In 1984, he organized the first Asia Pacific Orchid Conference. Thanks to Professor Sagarik’s efforts, Thailand’s first orchid library opened In December 1993.

Thailand is now the world's foremost exporter of orchids, and many of the most popular varieties were bred from wild Thai orchids.

“These flowers are not like the ones you see every day, which blossom and then wither away,” Professor Sagarik once observed. Because the beauty of orchids is passed onto future generations, he called the flowers “love in humankind.”

S̄uk̄hs̄ạnt̒ wạn keid, Professor Sagarik!

Today’s Doodle was created by Doodler Erich Nagler.

I felt like I was stepping in Professor Sagarik’s shoes for this project because I had to study orchids myself in order to get the drawings and the colors of these species correct. I started by taking a trip to the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California.

They have orchid species from all over the world, which I spent the day drawing and coloring. Orchids thrive in very humid conditions, so I was sweating as I was drawing. They also have misters that spray intermittently, so I had to protect my drawing papers from the rainforest-like tropical conditions.

It was important to draw species that were native to Thailand for this Doodle, so I ended up finding more orchids than were on display at the conservatory. I would draw multiple flower specimens from different angles to understand their form, and then choose the best drawings to apply color.