I was triggered by a radio broadcast considering the Greek and Italian economy that suggested that art might be an alternative investment. As a result of my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and my present study at the Photo Academy (Foto Academie) in Amsterdam I wondered if this is true. And more specific whether this is the case with photography? I decided to do some research and got in touch with a trader who could renounce or affirm the alternative investment  and would be willing to meet me for an interview. For this reason I was to travel to Haarlem (The Netherlands) one day. Haarlem, a city which has proven to me over time how powerful a name can be. Wherever I go, whenever people hear my last name ‘van Halem’, the name of this city will be written down. Therefore I am willing to spell it out every time. Also, this visit of Haarlem proves to be a surprise for me.

From the main train station, I walk towards the St. Bavo church. Swinging along the shopping crowd and smelling the fresh coffee I take a seat on a terrace. How exciting. My first contribution as a columnist for Kunstpedia. In about twenty minutes I will meet Mr. Frido Troost of (Institute for Concrete Matter) ICM in Haarlem. What’s he like? What drives him? What does he do? What is going on with the interest in photography nowadays? My curiosity lifts off. Oh, my coffee dried up and I need to get going. The street curves and I turn into the next street. It surprises me. It’s dark, it’s green: it’s a bridge of ivy. It covers the full width of the street. Wow, really amazing to see this in the city. Only a few more steps and I am already in front of the place I need to be, the ICM.

I am wondering who would open the door and what the gallery would look like. Mr. Troost opens the door and asks if I can wait a while in the gallery, so he can finish up a job. No problem!!! Happy as a kid in a candy store I look around in amazement; compared to the crammed small streets on my way over here, this place is incredibly spacious and beautifully illuminated. Vintage photographs everywhere! Cabinets full of early photographs. Photographs on the wall. Photographs in drawers. Photographs on the table. It's like a museum! There is even old photograph equipment here and there.  Mr. Troost comes in and invites me to sit down. We take a seat and I grab the opportunity to learn more about this trade.

Does the present economy effect the trade?

‘Well, I do not experience that. Some traders will get into photographs through acknowledge / established names such as Man Ray, born as Emmanuel Radnitzky (Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), August 27th 1890 - Paris, November 18th 1976). He was a surrealistic photographer and movie director, who started to shoot his most important work in the 1918.

And if those photographs happen to come by I will buy them too, because of their commercial value. ’ Mr. Troost is one of the few specialised dealers in the Netherlands who has a huge variety of vintage photographs. He has a large focus on ‘gebruiksfotografie’ (used photography) and geographic (scenes of bridges under construction, the high rail road in Rotterdam), scientific, astronomical, crime, erotic, portraits of unknown people, and many more. He knows what his customers are interested in and want for their collections. He supplies people who collect historical photographs. He doesn’t recognize photography as a great investment. ‘Photography is a reflection of history’. His extensive collection attracts museums; institutions which act as trendsetters.

And how about the difference in markets between countries?

‘Well, I do recognize a strong market for historical photography in the United States, the United Kingdom and France’

Could the reason for this be the fact that the Dutch do not want to attack the Great Masters in painting?

‘No, I do not think so’, Mr. Troost replies, ‘because France also has great painters yet the market for historical photographs is better over than the Netherlands. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that photography in the United States, the United Kingdom and France has been adopted as a more mature profession than in the Netherlands. Around 1850 the French Government hired 4 photographers and commissioned them to photograph things they suspected would be lost by development, such as bridges, roads, buildings and so on.’ He continues to explain that the reason that the United States have such interest in historical pictures might be due to the fact that the United States doesn’t have a by the Government formalized stated sequence of historical events like the Dutch, the so called Canon van de geschiedenis. From the 20th century until the 1980’s photography in the United States was considered a profession, more than in the Netherlands. The private sector in foreign countries seems to be more interested in photographs than in the Netherlands, the reason for which is not clear. Countries like Indonesia, Russia and China are also interested in historical photographs. Due to the relatively small number of historical photographs, those countries are more interested in getting back these pictures.’

Do you think that you have a social role in this?

‘No, I do not. Photography is what I like and that is the reason we developed ICM. Still we need to earn money to pay the rent  as we do not get any grants. Museums fulfil a social role and nowadays you will see that some museums like the Rijksmuseum will show their collection in themes. Photography has become more part of the whole theme. It’s obvious they have a historical role and their collections consists of more artefacts than before. Photographs will be put beside the furniture, spoons, paintings, etc. It’s more combined as a whole. ’

How about your collection?

‘Well, when I get a whole archive I get the context of the photographs as well. If I get a single photograph it is obvious I need to look for the context.

Also, Mr. Troost gives insights about the way photographs are organized and the role of ‘new’ technology (for example computers and internet) in his trade. Because of the internet collections are being archived more thoroughly. The internet has become a great market, but also a great one to search for interesting photographs. ‘I only need a small picture to see if it’s something interesting and worth paying a visit. I experience that the meta data (library of key word attached to the photograph) has become very rich. So searching for specific photographs has improved over the years. Besides my own judgement and experience this results in great insights in scarcity and pricing.’

The interview is at an end and Mr. Troost continues cleaning and tagging his new photographs he just bought. I am walking along this collection and of course I cannot resist the challenge of shooting some photographs myself.

Taking the train home I start to recap the interview. I realize, many more questions could have been asked, however they did not cross my ind at the time. I realise that there is still more to learn about photography. Also, I admire Mr. Troost for his knowledge and his passion for photography. I felt pride in his voice when he said that he runs his company without any grants. This means freedom and independence. Finally I ask myself what have I learned? What is the new insight? Well, again I start thinking about the Chinese and the Russians. Due to circumstances  a small amount of photographs have been made by the Chinese and the Russians at the time. Nowadays they are searching for their history in western countries. To me this proves ‘Photography is a reflection of history’.

ICM
Nieuwe Kruisweg  19
Haarlem, the Netherlands
www.concretematter.com