Mini-documentary on the exhibition 'HERE. Black in Rembrandt’s time'

Together with filmmaker Milan Amzic, we made a mini-documentary, giving viewers a tour of the exhibition.

HERE. Black in Rembrandt's time shows that many black people were depicted in 17th-century Dutch art, especially between 1620 and 1660. And not just as servants of the white elite, as you might expect. Black people can be seen in many different roles, and often depicted after life. Not as caricatures or as stereotypes, but very lifelike and recognisable. This produces a range of portraits of seventeenth-century black people. We have brought them together here, in Museum Het Rembrandthuis, from all over Europe.

The exhibition was developed jointly by Stephanie Archangel (initiator, guest curator), Elmer Kolfin (initiator, guest curator), Mark Ponte (researcher), Raul Balai and Brian Elstak (designers, curators of contemporary art), Chantal Tjin (fringe programme), Jörgen Tjon A Fong (moderator panel reviews, curator Dutch Masters Re-Seen) and Museum Het Rembrandthuis.

Thanks to feedback and input from review panelists: Samra Asmellash, Noraly Beyer, Aspha Bijnaar, Marian Duff, Mitchell Esajas, Özkan Gölpinar, Richard Kofi and Carlien Lammers.