Steef Zoetmulder

2 September 2023 until 7 January 2024

The photographer #steefzoetmulder (1911-2004) is a key figure in post-war Dutch art photography who became known for his creative depictions of everyday reality. Unusual structures and patterns, emphasised by unexpected perspectives, lighting, and cutouts are characteristic of his work. From Saturday 2 September, #kunsthalrotterdam will be presenting the exhibition ‘Steef Zoetmulder’, compiled from the collection of Leiden University Libraries (Universitaire Bibliotheken Leiden, UBL). Over fifty vintage prints, created by Zoetmulder himself, will be shown to the public for the very first time at the Kunsthal: iconic Rotterdam buildings, still lifes, portraits, and abstract compositions.

Steef Zoetmulder grew up during the Interbellum. Inspired by photographers like Piet Zwart, Gerrit Kiljan, and Jan Kamman he followed the basic principles of the New Photography, a movement focused on depicting the subject matter in an idiosyncratic and graphic way. Inspired by ‘Subjektive Fotografie’ (Subjective Photography), which prioritised form over documenting the subject matter, Zoetmulder later developed a visual language of his own. In his increasingly abstract work, he experimented with different image cutouts, lighting techniques, perspectives, and compositions, which he referred to as ‘photographic motifs’. For the work he composed with light and glass – his so-called ‘light graphs’ – Zoetmulder photographed through distorted glass or water: experiments reminiscent of the distortions used in surrealistic photography.  

Versatile oeuvre
Besides his autonomous work, Zoetmulder also started focusing on promotional and advertising photography after the Second World War. Themes from fashion, industry and trade, for instance, regularly appeared in front of his lens. The subjects in Zoetmulder’s photographs, such as the E55 exhibition on innovative technology, the new Bijenkorf department store and the construction of the Euromast tower in Rotterdam, all pervade the aesthetics and atmosphere of the post-war reconstruction period. Especially for the exhibition, Maartje van den Heuvel – curator of photography at UBL – selected over fifty original prints, supplemented by archival material about the photographer that further highlight his extensive oeuvre. 

Collaboration
The exhibition #steefzoetmulder is realised in collaboration with UBL, a knowledge node for photography and custodian of the oldest historical photography collection in the Netherlands. Recently, UBL acquired the central collection of Steef Zoetmulder’s work, thanks to the support of Vereniging Rembrandt, the Mondriaan Fund, and Friends of UBL.

For the press
Download the full press release here
Download the campaign image here 
Download the press images overview here 

Photo captions: 
1. Bouw HBU-gebouw (Erasmushuis), Coolsingel Rotterdam, #steefzoetmulder, ca. 1939. Ontwikkelgelatinezilverdruk, 47,5 x 37,5 cm, Universitaire Bibliotheken Leiden
2. Rotterdam, Zadkine, #steefzoetmulder, 1955. Ontwikkelgelatinezilverdruk, 48,5 x 37,5 cm, Universitaire Bibliotheken Leiden
3. #steefzoetmulder, Zelfportret, 1945. Ontwikkelgelatinezilverdruk, 44,5 x 33,1 cm, Universitaire Bibliotheken Leiden