Bodies' Stories
Research into physical and mental diversity in the collection
The Physical Diversity in the Rijksmuseum project is the Rijksmuseum's research programme into physical and mental diversity in the collection. The project focuses on vulnerability, resilience, and diversity of the body.
MISSION
The project focuses on research to increase and anchor the visibility and understanding of physical diversity in art- and cultural history.
GOAL
The Rijksmuseum aims to engage a wide and diverse audience, ensuring that visitors from all walks of life can see themselves reflected in the museum’s objects, stories, displays, and publications. After all, the museum connects art, history, and people – everyone. The programme includes exploring a range of perspectives, from temporary and chronic illnesses to mental health, as well as intellectual, sensory, cognitive, and physical disabilities or handicaps. The scholarly research complements the existing narratives within the collection. The project has a positive effect on the recognition, acknowledgement and normalization of bodily diversity.
The project has three key approaches:
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Research into language in relation to disabilities or handicaps.
The terminology related to disabilities is examined. An example of this is the term 'crippled', which held a different meaning in the 17th century than it does today, where it is mainly experienced as derogatory. When addressing potentially problematic terminology, external experts are consulted to develop a nuanced understanding of contemporary, alternative expressions. Language research serves as a foundation for a deeper understanding of history, making it accessible and open for discussion in a more informal context. -
Research into representation.
The depictions of, about and by people with a disability or handicap in the collection are studied and documented. -
Research into the biographies of individuals and makers in the collection.
The biographical information and additions will be registered in the information systems.
PUBLICATIONS
- OOG magazine, interview with Josephine Krikke on the blind people in the works of Rembrandt and Ed van der Elsken
- Gastvrijheid, IN:museum, editie 2, september 2023
- Publication 'Rijksmuseum. Accessibility without Limits'
In the book Rijksmuseum Accessibility without limits from 2022 we take you on the journey we have begun on our way to an accessible Rijksmuseum. A journey we are making with people with impairments and their interest groups and from which we are learning a lot. This is not a how-to guide in which we outline a process from start to finish. Because every organization is different and has its own challenges, opportunities and ambitions. We share how we tackled the process, what we ran into, what went well and what didn’t, and what we still need to do.
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
- Rijksmuseum & Nemo: Without Sight to the Museum (2025)
- Rijksmuseum: Conference Accessibility (2022)
- Museum of Fine Arts & CNA Boston (MA), colloquium Accessibility and Access to Dutch and Flemish Art (2024)
- International conference in Boston (MA) US, LEAD conference (2023)
- National Museumconference themed Tipping points (2022)
- Rijksmuseum: Night of History with director dr. Bert Watteeuw of the Rubenshuis and Rubenianum (2021)
PODCAST
The next episodes in the Rijksmuseum podcasts cover topics of bodily diversity:
RIJKSMUSEUM APP – AUDIOSTOPS
Thematic tour: TBA
Hendrick Avercamp nr. 473
Karel du Jardin nr. 554
Jan Asselijn nr. 549
CONTACT
For questions or comments about accessibility, please see this page.
If you wish like to contribute or receive more information about donating, please contact us at schenkingen@rijksmuseum.nl or +31 20 6747497
THANKS TO
Bartiméus Fonds
