Rijksmuseum – Junior Curator of prints and drawings

The Rijksmuseum is the museum of the Netherlands for art and history with a collection of more than 1 million objects ranging from the Middle Ages through the 21st century. The Rijksmuseum Print Room (Department of Drawings, Prints and Photography) is one of the top five collections of works on paper in the world. As an organization we are deeply embedded in society. We explore current and social topics, which is reflected in our various collaborative partners, temporary exhibitions and other programming. In order to achieve this, we strive for diversity within all our teams.

The Fondation Custodia in Paris, founded in 1947 by Frits Lugt and his wife Jacoba Klever-Lugt, is responsible for the Frits Lugt Collection and related scholarly research, publications and exhibitions. One of the largest private collections of old master drawings, prints and artists’ letters, the Fondation Custodia is considered the ‘home of works on paper’ in France. It also has a remarkable collection of rare books, portrait miniatures, paintings, antique frames, furniture, antiquities and Chinese porcelain. It houses a conservation studio and one of the largest art history libraries in France. Its curators care for the collection of over 100,000 objects, to which new gifts and acquisitions are continually added.

The Fondation Custodia and the Print Room of the Rijksmuseum are offering a two-year apprenticeship for two candidates.

Junior Curator of prints and drawings (M/F/X)
36 hours per week

The apprenticeship is available to young art historians who have recently completed a Master’s degree in art history and who wish to become specialist curators of works on paper. One year will be spent working at the Fondation Custodia and the other year at the Print Room (Rijksprentenkabinet).

The job:
The purpose of the apprenticeship is to give young art historians experience at these two locations, actively engaging in all facets of curating a collection of prints and drawings, including management, expansion, documentation, publications and exhibition.

The main activities of this position are:

• Learning to identify graphical techniques and describing works of art.
• Using a database to inventory and catalogue works on paper, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks and artists’ correspondence.
• Developing an understanding of how to structure a catalogue raisonné, exhibition catalogue or collection catalogue.
• Developing an understanding of the structure of historical collections and navigating the Marques de Collections website.
• Developing expertise on drawings and prints, and their appropriate attribution.
• Developing relevant expertise on the dynamics of the art market; becoming aware of the importance of drawings and prints as assets in a collection.
• Preparing acquisitions, visiting viewing days, art auctions and trade exhibitions.
• Preparing presentations and exhibitions of works on paper.
• Writing explanatory label texts and entries for works on paper.

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in art history.
• Clear affinity with works of art on paper and the ambition to specialize in this field.
• Cooperative and flexible.
• Good social and communication skills.
• Solid analytical skills.
• Good command of English.
• At least a basic knowledge of French and/or Dutch.

Working conditions
The first year of the appointment may take place in Amsterdam or Paris. The Rijksmuseum and the Fondation Custodia each offer a competitive salary and a contract of employment for one year in accordance with locally applicable employment law.

For further information please contact Ilona van Tuinen or Erik Hinterding, Acting Co-Heads of the Print Room, at i.van.tuinen@rijksmuseum.nl or e.hinterding@rijksmuseum.nl, or Ger Luijten, Director of Fondation Custodia, at g.luijten@fondationcustodia.fr.

If you have any questions regarding the application procedure, please contact Marijn Hovingh, recruiter, at werken@rijksmuseum.nl.

Application
Send your application (letter of motivation and CV) via the application form or by e-mail to werken@rijksmuseum.nl quoting the job title, by no later than 1 March 2022. Interviews will be scheduled in March 2022 in Paris and in Amsterdam. The appointment will start on 1 May 2022.

Agency calls are not appreciated.