About
"Re-discovering the romance of the hills"
Landscapes and historical sites in Europe, seen through the eyes of a historian. I’m looking for the past where I know it is, and using techniques of the past to create my own interpretation, inspired by the artists of the romantic ages. In our digital age, I want to preserve the photographic language and techniques of the past, since they learn us something about the way we perceive the world. History is all around us: the landscape, as Simon Schama wrote, is made as much of layers of memory as of layers of rock.
Educated as a Dutch historian, graduated in 1990 and obtained a Ph.D. in Middle and Eastern European history in 2011. Somehow, doing research, writing and making exhibitions wasn’t enough. I thereafter decided to study photography. I felt the need to express what I had to tell in images. During my time at the Photoacademy in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Netherlands, I learned to wield the magic staff of vintage plate camera’s, learned to print with gum and water colour, to use paper negatives, make silver gelatine prints and above all: to develop a photographic eye. Now I use this magic wand to show that in our modern, 21st century world, the feelings of the past are still there, the work of the romantics is just around the corner, and history is all around us.
Our minds are shaped by them.
For the SKVR in Rotterdam, I taught analogue techniques for beginners, especially silver gelatine printing in the dark room. These were very rewarding experiences. Unluckily, after five years, the SKVR moved to another building and decided to dismantle the dark room. A decision I still regret, I'm convinced that not long in the near future, Rotterdam will feel the need for another public dark room.
Original, analogue fine Art Prints, unique because of their technique, are for sale, for prices mostly under € 500, price depending on size and technique, in limited editions. Just sent me an email at mvanhattemenco@gmail.com
I was one of the founders of 'galerie Sehnsucht', a photography art gallery in Rotterdam 2017-2019. Since 2019, the 'Nomads of Sehnsucht' formed an artist collective of which I was member between 2019-2023. For more information on their art and future and past exhibitions, see: Nomads of Sehnsucht
BNR Podcast series 'De Kuifje factor' (The TinTin factor) made an episode on the disappearance of Mallory and Irvine on the Mount Everest in 1924 - did they make it to the top? Interviewer Paul Sanders visited me to talk about this mystery in 2025. Listen to the podcast
Exhibitions
Haagse Kunst Kring: 'De verborgen bron', Nomads of Sehnsucht, 29 november 2023 - 24 december 2023
De Overkant, Ouddorp, Nomads of Sehnsucht, 17 februari - 12 mei 2024
Pulchri Studio, Den Haag, Nomads of Sehnsucht, 23 maart - 16 april 2024
Kunstmaand Ameland, november 2022
Haagse Kunstkring, Nomads, 2022
Kasteel Rhoon, Nomads, 2021
Regio Art Rijnmond, Spijkenisse, 2020
Rotterdam Photo Festival, 2020
KUZ Huis, Hoek van Holland, 2019
Galerie Noord, wintersalon, december 2019
Pop-Up Gallery Crawl with Nomads of Sehnsucht, 2019
Galerie Sehnsucht, Rotterdam, several exhibitions, 2017 and 2018.
Door de ogen van Rotterdam, De Zorgbutler, 2018
Rotterdam Photo Festival 2018
Galerie Noord, Groningen, 2017
Rotterdam Photo 2017
NEW Dutch Photography Talent, GUP Magazine, Art’otel Amsterdam 2016-2017
Rotterdam Photo Festival 2016
AIM, SBK Gallery, Amsterdam 2015
Images of the Past, IJsselland Hospital 2014
KNORR foto Galerie De Fruitvis, Rotterdam, 2013
Art Route Barendrecht 2009
mvanhattemenco@gmail.com telephone +31 6 51700296.
