ESNA Winter Seminar: The nineteenth century in acquisitions 2020-2024
On Friday 31 January 2025, ESNA is organising the annual ESNA Winter Seminar in collaboration with the RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History. This year's seminar will focus on a critical evaluation and celebration of acquisitions of nineteenth-century art in the Netherlands and Belgium over the past five years. The central question: what do these purchases tell us about museums' priorities and ambitions?
A turbulent five years
The 2020-2024 period was eventful for the museum and heritage sector, to say the least. In addition to the corona pandemic, which led to long-term closures and sharply declining revenues, there was also a renewed focus on social themes such as diversity and sustainability. These developments provided museums with an opportunity to revamp their collections and policies, thereby increasing their social relevance. Nevertheless, museums achieved impressive results during this challenging period. In the Netherlands, more than 500 nineteenth-century works were added to the Netherlands Collection. This success was possible thanks to creative funding strategies, the commitment of private collectors and funds such as the Rembrandt Association, and intensive collaborations between institutions.
Recent years have also been marked by important new priorities. Inclusivity became an important pillar in this regard, with growing visibility for women artists such as Suze Robertson and Thérèse Schwartze, as well as makers from minority groups who were often overlooked in art history. At the same time, we saw an increase in interest in less conventional art forms, such as embroidery and objects with a social history.
International acquisitions also provided opportunities to further enrich the collection. Purchases from artists such as Edouard Vuillard, Marie d'Orleans, Bertha Wegmann and Thomas Rowlandson show that there was much to discover beyond borders.
What do the acquisitions tell us?
While established names like Vincent van Gogh – no fewer than four works of which were acquired - and Willem Roelofs – accounting for some 10 new works - retain their place, the acquisitions also show a growing interest in lesser-known artists and themes. A striking example is the renewed focus on Suze Robertson, several works by whom have been acquired by various institutions. This growing interest seems to be directly linked to the retrospective at Panorama Mesdag in 2022-2023, illustrating how exhibitions can drive museums' acquisition strategy.
The Winter Seminar 2025 provides a platform to analyse these developments. Curators will present five high-profile acquisitions and discuss their importance within the wider field. During a concluding roundtable discussion, peers reflect on questions such as:
- How do the acquisitions relate to broader social and museum trends?
- Are the acquisitions representative of an enriched and diverse nineteenth century?
- Which themes and creators remain underexposed, and how can museums address these gaps in the future?