Blue Dots: Uncovering Hidden Art & Historical Value at the Stedelijk Museum Exhibition

This exhibition examines the historical 'evacuation dots' system implemented by the Dutch government in 1951 to categorize museum collections for wartime evacuation. It sheds light on artworks once labeled as 'less important' (blue dots) and questions what this categorization reveals about art and our values.

In 1951, amidst the Cold War, the Dutch government established a system of 'evacuation dots' to prioritize museum collection items for safekeeping during potential conflict. Red indicated 'very important,' white 'important,' and blue 'less important.' This exhibition, held in the IMC gallery, brings forgotten 'blue dot' works to the forefront, questioning their historical categorization and what it signifies about the artworks and societal values. It features artists such as Jozef Israëls, Thérèse Schwartze, José Maria Rodriguez-Acosta, Marie de Roode-Heijermans, and Nola Hatterman, showcasing a range of styles from traditional painting to modern figurative art, which were often sidelined in favor of the Stedelijk's modernist focus on abstraction and expressionism under director Willem Sandberg. Between 1951 and 1965, approximately 10% of artworks, predominantly still lifes, landscapes, and cityscapes, received a blue dot. This reflects the Stedelijk's curatorial direction at the time, which favored 'forward-thinking' and innovative art. Seventy-five years later, 'Blue Dots' invites visitors to contemplate the criteria of importance in art and to consider what cultural heritage we wish to preserve for future generations, offering a critical look at historical value judgments.

Visitors can book tickets for the exhibition via the provided link. Admission is likely covered by general museum entry, as is customary for exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum. Please refer to the ticketing page for specific details and availability.