An exhibition and biography about Tonia Stieltjes (1881-1932): The first black trade union leader in the Netherlands

Tonia Stieltjes: activist, model and great motivator

Jan Sluijters, Mevr. S. 1922, privé collectie

Tonia Stieltjes-Milgens (Amsterdam 1881-1932 Paris) is known for being Jan Sluijters’ favourite model. She was a soulmate of Piet Mondrian and one of the few people who truly understood him.

IRIS KENSMIL-Op Bezoek bij Mondriaan 2023-PH.GJ.vanROOIJ

But Tonia was also the first and only Black person to lead a trade union in the Netherlands.

Most of her youth she spent in the Eastern Islands neighbourhood in Amsterdam. She was the daughter of Anthony Milgens, a Surinamese man born into slavery, and Maria Heidman, a domestic servant.

Detail Kleine Kattenburgerstraat Jacob Olie, Stadsarchief Amsterdam. This photo was taken in the street where Tonia lived at that time

From 1904, Tonia worked as a maidservant for a prominent family, the Wibauts. She became the popular leader of the domestic servant’s union in Amsterdam.

Tonia married Jan de Meijere, a photographer, in 1908 and the couple had two children. Following her divorce from De Meijere, she found a new partner: an engineer named Wim Stieltjes. In 1919, Tonia moved to Paris, where she became a fixture in the artists’ scene. From that period on, she sat for Jan Sluijters on numerous occasions.

Brian Elstak, Jan, 2023

This exhibition was curated by me and prompted by a new biography of Tonia also written by me.

At my request, the artists Iris Kensmil and Brian Elstak have depicted scenes from Tonia’s life. Lyanne Tonk designed both the book and the exhibition.

Opening of the exhibition in Singer Laren (pictures bij Herman Keppy, the Museum and me) :

Book

All photos on this site are not intended for any commercial purpose. I have tried to trace all the rules and rights of all images. As far as I know, these images can be used in this way. If you ar a copyright holder and would like a piece of your work removed or the creditline changed then please do not hesitate to contact me.

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About me, A few highlights:

In 2008 I was guest curator of the exhibition Black is beautiful. Rubens to Dumas. Important advisors Elizabeth McGrath (Rubens and colleagues, Warburg institute Image of the Black in Western Art collection), Carl Haarnack (slavery in books), Elmer Kolfin (slavery in prints and paintings) and Adi Martis (contemporary art). Gary Schwartz made his research for The Image of the Black in Western Art available to me.

In 2013 Cobra aan de gracht / Cobra on the Canal, written by me, was published by Samsara publications.

In 2014 my essay ‘Painted Blacks and Radical Imagery in the Netherlands (1900-1940)’ was published in The Image of the Black in Western Art Volume V (I). (ed. David Bindman, Henry Louis Gates jr.)

In 2017 my book for the black servants of the Van Oranje family was published. I also put together the accompanying exhibition in the Hague Historical Museum.

In 2022 The City Museum of Harderwijk published a booklet about the painter Harmen Meurs, written by me.

See publications and about me for more information.