Painting restorer – Marjan de Visser about training, knowledge and specialization

Painting restorer training

In 1992 Marjan de Visser started her practical conservation and restoration training. She did this in the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam. After only two and a half years later she founded her own paintings restoration studio in The Hague. Since then, Marjan de Visser has been restoring paintings in her own studio.

Before that, Marjan obtained her Bachelors in painting. She followed this training at the Art Academy in Arnhem. Subsequently she obtained an extra Certificate in Chemistry. In addition, Marjan has obtained many certificates. Most are in the field of conservation and restoration. But also for preventive conservation of art objects.

Her motto is: “Life long learning is what I feel comfortable with and what I find important”.

Painting restoration certificates

The certificates were obtained at training institutes at home and abroad. Such as at the RCE (National Cultural Heritage) Amsterdam. And also at the SRAL Foundation in Maastricht. Abroad at IAP in London. But also at INP Paris. Finally, this is also possible at the Restauratoren Nederland association. Marjan’s specialization is cleaning unvarnished and varnished oil paintings. But certainly also unvarnished acrylic paintings. Marjan cleans according to the New Cleaning methods, developed by Richard Wolbers. She is currently investigating the possibilities of acrylic paint cleaning with micro emulsions. Also introduced by Wolbers in the painting restoration. That is why she attended the workshop CAPS’Cleaning of Acrylic Painted Surfaces’ in August 2014. This was taught in Ottawa at the Canadian Conservation Institute.

Experience painting restorer

Marjan de Visser likes to restore paintings from her favourite art periods. These are: ‘de Ploeg’ Painters from Groningen, 1st half of the 20th century. In addition, the international artists’ movement CoBra 2nd half of the 20th century. Certainly also modern painting from the 20th century and contemporary painting. But also paintings from the 17th century. It applies to both canvas and panel paintings. Since 1994 also paintings from Indonesia. There she has a small clientele. These are the so-called ‘Beautiful Indies’ paintings. It concerns artists such as G.P. Adolfs, Annemarie Blaupot Ten Cate. But also C.L. Dake, Leo Eland and Auke Sonnega.

Painting restoration experience abroad

This has sparked Marjan’s interest in the influence of the tropical kimaat on oil paintings. Because the temperature (T) is much higher in the tropics. And the humidity (RH) is also high all year round. Marjan restored in Jakarta no less than twice. These were paintings by Indonesian artists such as Affandi, Sudjojono, Lee Man Fong and Hendra Gunawan.

Restoration and conservation project Landhuis Bloemhof on Curacao in 2008

Marjan de Visser also restores paintings on Curaçao. She worked there four times since 2005. The first time was at the invitation of Stichting Landhuis Bloemhof, for which Marjan treated the collection of modern art. Other commissions included two 19th century portraits of Landhuis Rooi Catootje and the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum.

Painting restorer and Museologist

In addition to painting restorer, Marjan de Visser obtained her Master’s degree in Museology in 2011. She did this at the Reinwardt Academy in Amsterdam. This enables Marjan to provide extra services to museums. Marjan thinks about collection management. She also writes appendices about handling artworks. She also carries out risk analyzes in depots. For the South Holland Heritage House, Marjan was asked several times for the Management and Conservation course. She did this together with Judith Tegelaers.

membership

Marjan de Visser is a member of the Association of Restauratoren Nederland (RN). De Visser subscribes the ethical code ECCO. She is a member of the International Council of Museums, committee for conservation (ICOM-CC). She is a member of The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers (BAPCR). She takes part in the Committee education for the Restorers Register. And is part of the editing team for ‘De Au Courant’, the digital journal for RN.