April 5, 1946: This image of the catacombs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art accompanied a letter to the editor published Dec. 7, 1970, that pointed out, citing a fact sheet issued by the museum, that “90 percent of the American paintings and sculptures, 55 percent of the objects assigned to the American wing, 55 percent of the European paintings and 70 percent of Western European art are not on view.” The writer suggests several alternative means to display hidden art. Photo: The New York Times
