PEOPLE
SANDER BIJL, ART DEALER
As a boy he moved among top dealers and collectors. Art dealer in Old Masters and son of the former chief restorer of the Rijksmuseum, Sander Bijl did not inherit his passion for art. Despite his father's standing, Sander had to forge his own path. It was not without its share of risks and setbacks. How did Sander reach the top of the art world?
As a little boy he was already among those top dealers and collectors. Art dealer in Old Masters and son of former chief restorer of the Rijksmuseum, Sander Bijl, did not get his love for art from a stranger. Despite his father's status, Sander has had to forge his own path. And that was not without the necessary risks and setbacks. Curious how Sander reached the top of the art world?
Have you always had a passion for art?My father is a restorer of paintings and former chief restorer of the Rijksmuseum. People come to him from all over the world with paintings. As a child I saw all those top dealers and collectors coming to our home. I thought that was fantastic. But sitting in a studio all day is not for me, I need people around me.
Who was your wheelbarrow?That was Robert Noortman. He always brought his paintings to my father. In 2001, he ensured that I, as a young boy, could watch TEFAF. In 2006, thanks to him, I was able to appear on PAN Amsterdam without too much hassle.
What's the stupidest thing you've ever done in your career?A few years ago I brought a painting to TEFAF that I am (still) convinced was a Saenredam. The selection committee for that fair thought I should do more research. This caused such a storm that the whole story was on the front page of NRC.next the next day. Then you think for a moment: Okay, I don't think this went quite the way it should.
Have you ever taken a chance yourself?When I was twenty, I consciously chose not to continue my studies but to focus everything on the art trade. With that I chose a path where there were no side roads. It's all or nothing. It had to work and that was a huge drive for me.
What advice would you give to others?This is not a profession that you enjoy doing from behind your desk. It's hard work, you almost have to kill and plunder to get anywhere. You must have that in you. My advice is not to choose old art if you don't have a bag of money on hand. Then I would rather go for contemporary art, which is a lot less risky.
