Neutral market places, art and war
The Dutch Art Market and the First World War
This research project reconstructs the history of the Dutch auction market during the First World War by examining auction reports, dealers’ records and archival documents held at the Rijksmuseum.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Like its European counterparts, the Dutch art market of the late nineteenth century underwent a phase of expansion and enjoyed connections to other markets through internationally active dealerships. The outbreak of war in 1914 marked the end of this period of market integration. While the war isolated and nationalized the markets of the belligerents, it gave dealers from neutral countries the opportunity to act as intermediaries and to continue trading. This research project retraces the development of the auction markets in the Netherlands and other neutral countries up to 1925, comparing them to those of neighbouring countries.
AIM OF THE PROJECT
This project is part of a larger study of the European art market that describes and analyses its transformation in the period from 1910 to 1925. By highlighting the importance of neutral spaces for trade and providing a counter narrative to developments observed in other countries, this study will shed new light on the functioning of the Dutch art market at the beginning of the 20th century and situate its history in a European context.
RESEARCHERS
Maddalena Alvi
m.alvi@rijksmuseum.nl
Andrew W. Mellon Fellow
Ludo van Halem
L.van.Halem@rijksmuseum.nl
Senior Curator of 20th-Century Art
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
This Fellowship is made possible by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and is part of the Rijksmuseum Fellowship Programme.