The Rijksmuseum has opened the Philips Wing with Modern Times (until 11 January 2015), an exhibition showcasing its collection of 20th-century photography. The new galleries follow the completion last year of a 10-year redevelopment of the rest of the museum, which cost €375m.
The Rijksmuseum has welcomed more than 4 million visitors since reopening in April 2013.
The museum has added 20,000 works since deciding in 1994 to extend its photographic holdings beyond the 19th century. The photography acquisition programme has been made possible by a longstanding sponsorship agreement with international law firm Baker & McKenzie.
Modern Times features more than 400 photographs and includes work by Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Lewis Hine, László Moholy-Nagy, Man Ray, Brassaï, W Eugene Smith, Ed van der Elsken and William Klein, among many others.
It is divided into seven themes and traces the major developments that the medium underwent during the 20th century: the rise of photojournalism, amateur, colour, fashion and promotional photography, as well as photography as an art form.
Modern Times has been curated by two of the Rijksmuseum’s photography curators, Hans Rooseboom and Mattie Boom.
The Philips Wing also has a permanent space to show photography. The first exhibition in this room is Document Nederland 2014, which features Hans van der Meer’s photographs documenting the differences in the border region between the Netherlands and Belgium.
Modern Times will be followed in February next year by Late Rembrandt, a show that is at London’s National Gallery until 18 January 2015.
The development of the Philips Wing has been overseen by Cruz y Ortiz, the architects that worked on the rest of the building.
Can you tell us about the newly renovated Philips Wing and what it offers visitors?
Hans Rooseboom: It’s a brand new exhibition wing with nine exhibition rooms and a permanent space dedicated to small-scale photography exhibitions. There is also a restaurant open all day for lunch and dinner till late.
Why was it decided to open the Philips Wing with a major exhibition of photography?
It’s a wonderful opportunity to show our 20th-century photography collection for the first time. The Rijksmuseum is famous for its 17th-century collection, whereas the photography collection may be less well known.
But it is both substantial and worthwhile. The 20th century was the age of photography and that is what Modern Times is all about. The exhibition shows how it all started, where it all came from and where we are now.
What prompted the decision to start collecting 20th-century photography?
Part of the strategy for the Rijksmuseum’s renovation and collection reorganisation was to collect and show not just works from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century, but also the 20th century. It became apparent that the photography department needed to be part of the strategy.
What have been some of the most significant acquisitions?
Works by László Moholy-Nagy, John Gutmann, William Klein and Jacques-Henri Lartigue.
How will the Rijksmuseum’s photography programme develop in the future?
Photography will become part of the Rijksmuseum’s exhibition programme in the Philips Wing. We are planning both large-and small-scale exhibitions for the spaces as well as for the new permanent photography gallery.
The Rijksmuseum has welcomed more than 4 million visitors since reopening in April 2013.
The museum has added 20,000 works since deciding in 1994 to extend its photographic holdings beyond the 19th century. The photography acquisition programme has been made possible by a longstanding sponsorship agreement with international law firm Baker & McKenzie.
Modern Times features more than 400 photographs and includes work by Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Lewis Hine, László Moholy-Nagy, Man Ray, Brassaï, W Eugene Smith, Ed van der Elsken and William Klein, among many others.
It is divided into seven themes and traces the major developments that the medium underwent during the 20th century: the rise of photojournalism, amateur, colour, fashion and promotional photography, as well as photography as an art form.
Modern Times has been curated by two of the Rijksmuseum’s photography curators, Hans Rooseboom and Mattie Boom.
The Philips Wing also has a permanent space to show photography. The first exhibition in this room is Document Nederland 2014, which features Hans van der Meer’s photographs documenting the differences in the border region between the Netherlands and Belgium.
Modern Times will be followed in February next year by Late Rembrandt, a show that is at London’s National Gallery until 18 January 2015.
The development of the Philips Wing has been overseen by Cruz y Ortiz, the architects that worked on the rest of the building.
Can you tell us about the newly renovated Philips Wing and what it offers visitors?
Hans Rooseboom: It’s a brand new exhibition wing with nine exhibition rooms and a permanent space dedicated to small-scale photography exhibitions. There is also a restaurant open all day for lunch and dinner till late.
Why was it decided to open the Philips Wing with a major exhibition of photography?
It’s a wonderful opportunity to show our 20th-century photography collection for the first time. The Rijksmuseum is famous for its 17th-century collection, whereas the photography collection may be less well known.
But it is both substantial and worthwhile. The 20th century was the age of photography and that is what Modern Times is all about. The exhibition shows how it all started, where it all came from and where we are now.
What prompted the decision to start collecting 20th-century photography?
Part of the strategy for the Rijksmuseum’s renovation and collection reorganisation was to collect and show not just works from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century, but also the 20th century. It became apparent that the photography department needed to be part of the strategy.
What have been some of the most significant acquisitions?
Works by László Moholy-Nagy, John Gutmann, William Klein and Jacques-Henri Lartigue.
How will the Rijksmuseum’s photography programme develop in the future?
Photography will become part of the Rijksmuseum’s exhibition programme in the Philips Wing. We are planning both large-and small-scale exhibitions for the spaces as well as for the new permanent photography gallery.
Project data
- Cost €375m (entire development)
- Funders Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Rijksmuseum
- Architect Cruz y Ortiz
- Restoration architect Van Hoogevest Architecten
- Interior architect/restaurant designer Studio Linse
- Main contractor Koninklijke
