AMSTERDAM.- This year we celebrate the fact that it is 100 years ago that the Dutch photograper Dirk de Herder (1914 - 2003) was born.

Dirk de Herder (1914 - 2003) called himself a "wizard of light”. And he was also called "the last romanticist of the North". His classic black & white photographs have been popular ever since 1946, when his first book about Amsterdam was published. His images of the old centre of Amsterdam and later, in the same style, Stockholm and Paris were influenced by Brassaï, with whom he corresponded, exchanged books and prints. As a photographer he was also acquainted with COBRA, whose members he regulary photographed and published in another book: "50 jaren kijken op u neer 1947-1997" (on the occasion of his exhibition with the same title in COBRA Museum in Amstelveen.

For VARA television, a Dutch broadcasting company, he photographed many celebrities for the television programguides. But his hart was always with his free work. He made many more books, "Never travel without a Suitcase full of Dreams” (80 photographs, for his 80th birthday) and "Flashback" (about his life), were among the last.

At "A Suitcase full of Dreams” we will show a broad selection of his work made in the 1940’s in Amsterdam, Paris and Stockholm. Next to that, a part of the COBRA exhibition will be offered for sale. As well as some of his books that are still available, thanks to The European Art Union. All images are printed and signed by Dirk de Herder personally, mostly done in the 1970's.

The negatives and archive of Dirk de Herder are kept in the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam. That’s why we’re very pleased that the official opening of our new show will be done by Martijn van den Broek, Head Collections Nederlands Fotomuseum, on Saturday 28 June 2014, 4.30 PM.