About Bob Scholte

My fascination with the art world began when I was thirteen, when I bought my first painting at an antiques market in Haarlem: a dark, worn nineteenth-century Madonna. Nothing of any great importance, but a seed had been planted. Since then, I have been drawn to tracking down unusual works and the research that often lies behind them. Much of my time is spent at auctions, going through catalogues and archives, looking for works that have somehow fallen out of view or whose stories have been forgotten.

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During my studies in History (BA) and Art History (BA, MA), I began buying and selling art. I set aside part of my student loan each month to acquire works at auction, which I would later resell. What started as a personal interest gradually developed into my own art dealership, which I founded in 2020. Today, I combine my passion for art with art-historical research and knowledge of the art market.

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The period around 1900 particularly fascinates me. It was the birthplace of countless art movements. From Impressionism and Symbolism to Fauvism, Cubism and Futurism, artists broke with tradition and searched for new forms, ideas and ways of looking at the modern world. Anything but boring.

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In the art trade, I focus on both established and overlooked artists. I build my collection on personal conviction, market knowledge and art-historical research, while also working as an acquisition agent for collectors seeking specific works. I listen closely to the market. What are collectors and curators looking for? Where are the gaps, and where is the supply? That is where I come in.

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Curiosity is essential in the art trade. If you keep digging and stay persistent, you will often be rewarded. I write about this search in my column 'Notes from the art trade' for Tableau Fine Arts Magazine, covering discoveries, archival research, forgeries and the surprises you encounter along the way. I aim to make the art market more accessible to a wider audience.

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My work has taken me to some unusual places, from working with the National Team for Art and Antiques Crime to valuation work at Waardewerk, television appearances at Talkshow Eva Jinek, and vetting at PAN and TEFAF.

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Fancy joining the search for a special work, or simply talking about a painting? Feel free to get in touch. Email, call or send me a WhatsApp message.

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Bob Scholte Fine Art is based in Haarlem, where the art dealership is currently located at a private residence. A dedicated gallery space at the same location is expected to open in spring 2027.