Margaretha Wilhelmina Francina (Mienke) Simon Thomas (born 1954) is a Dutch
art historian
Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today ...
, curator and author, working as a senior curator at
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Municipal Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen () is an art museum in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The name of the museum is derived from the two most important collectors of Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans and Daniël George van Beuningen. It is located at ...
in Rotterdam. She is known for her works on the development of Dutch applied art and design.Portret Mienke Simon Thomas " ''MfDC 2011/2012.'' online op ''myfirstdesigncollection.nl,'' 2018.
Life and work
Simon Thomas studied at the
Design Academy Eindhoven
Design Academy Eindhoven is an interdisciplinary educational institute for art, architecture and design in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The work of its faculty and alumni have brought it international recognition, and is widely regarded as one of the w ...
from 1972 to 1976, and continued for some time in the history of art and design at
Utrecht University
Utrecht University (UU; nl, Universiteit Utrecht, formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrollme ...
. Later in 1996 she obtained her PhD in this direction at the
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (abbreviated as ''VU Amsterdam'' or simply ''VU'' when in context) is a public research university in Amsterdam, Netherlands, being founded in 1880. The VU Amsterdam is one of two large, publicly funded research ...
under
Carel Blotkamp
Carel Hendrik Blotkamp (born 1945) is a Dutch artist, art historian, writer and critic. He was a professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam between 1982 and 2007. Apart from his academic career Blotkamp is known for his work in art critique, wri ...
with a dissertation on ornaments and ornament theories in the Netherlands between 1850 and 1930.
At the end of the seventies Simon Thomas started as a freelancer. She participated in the Industry & Design exhibition at the
Stedelijk Museum
The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (; Municipal Museum Amsterdam), colloquially known as the Stedelijk, is a museum for modern art, contemporary art, and design located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
in Amsterdam from 1985 to 1986. in 1986 she published a book about the furniture designer
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
Municipal Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen () is an art museum in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The name of the museum is derived from the two most important collectors of Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans and Daniël George van Beuningen. It is located at ...
, where she grew to be the main curator as successor of
Thimo te Duits
Thimo te Duits (born 1962 in Utrecht) is a Dutch art historian, curator, author and editor, known for his numerous contributions in the field of Dutch applied art.
Biography Early career in the 1980s and 1990s
After his studies in art histo ...
. She then continued to write about Dutch design and its development. For example, she wrote general books about the Dutch packaging industry, Art Deco in the Netherlands, and some biographical works about designers such as Jaap Gidding, Jacob Jongert and
Johan Thorn Prikker
Johan Thorn Prikker (6 June 1868, The Hague - 5 March 1932, Cologne) was a Dutch artist who worked in Germany after 1904. His activities were very eclectic, including architecture, lithography, furniture, stained-glass windows, mosaics, tapestries ...
.
Selected publications
* Mienke Simon Thomas. ''Corn. van der Sluys: binnenhuisarchitect, organisator en publicist, 1881/1944.'' Uitgeverij 010, 1988.
* Mienke Simon Thomas. ''De Leer van het Ornament. Versieren volgens voorschrift 1850 – 1930.'' proefschrift Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, 1996.
* Mienke Simon Thomas. ''Goed in vorm: honderd jaar ontwerpen in Nederland,'' 010 Publishers, 2008.
* Mienke Simon Thomas.''Dutch Design: A history,'' Reaktion Books, 15 December 2008