Commissioned by the Mondriaan Fund, art historian Nathalie Zonnenberg researched 130 years of Dutch representation at the Venice Biennale: the international art exhibition that has taken place every two years since 1895.

 

The publication traces the history of the Dutch contribution to the Biennale, from the first Dutch presentations in the halls of the Central Pavilion to the acquisition of a national pavilion in 1914.

 

Across 56 chapters, one for every edition in which the Netherlands participated, the book follows institutional shifts, changing curatorial approaches and the influence of cultural politics on the Dutch entries over more than a century.

 

The publication also looks behind the scenes of the Biennale itself: how decisions were made, how artists and themes were selected, how Dutch presentations were received by the press, and how political and social developments shaped the Dutch contribution over time.

 

It is the first time this history has been brought together in a single publication.

 

 

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The publication was commissioned by the Mondriaan Fund and written by Nathalie Zonnenberg, with contributions by Kees Keijer, Laurens Otto and Jorne Vriens. Edited by Milo Vermeire, published by Jap Sam Books and designed by Studio Kader.

 

Dutch & English edition available for pre-order, shipping from 28 May onwards.

 

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