Rijksmuseum Announces Major Ed van der Elsken Retrospective

The Rijksmuseum has announced "Ed van der Elsken. Up Close," a major exhibition celebrating the influential work of Dutch street photographer and filmmaker Ed van der Elsken.

Scheduled to run from June 19 to September 13, 2026, the exhibition will delve into van der Elsken's distinctive approach to photography and film. Recognized for his candid and often intimate portrayals of urban life and human interaction, van der Elsken's work significantly shaped post-war photojournalism and the photobook format.

The retrospective will showcase a range of his mediums, including photography—notably gelatin silver prints—and film. Materials and expertise for the exhibition are drawn from key institutions such as the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Leiden University Libraries, and EYE Film Museum.