Cor Jaring, one of Amsterdam’s best-known photographers, is transferring his archive to the Amsterdam City Archives. Jaring is known, among other things, for his photographs of the Port of Amsterdam. As a co-founder of Provo, he also photographed the movement from within.
He created iconic images of the anti-smoking happenings at the Lieverdje, the Ruigoord cultural sanctuary, and the smoke bomb set off during the wedding of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus. A true Amsterdammer, Jaring was born on Amsterdam’s Eastern Islands and worked in the docks for many years.
Jaring first encountered photography during his military service. Later, while working in the docks as a deckhand and night watchman, he made portraits of dockworkers that would eventually bring him widespread recognition.
He served as the unofficial court photographer of the anarchic and playful Provo movement, making him the defining photographer of those years of protest and renewal.
He sold his photographs of smoke bombs and bewildered police officers at the wedding of Beatrix and Claus to the renowned magazine Paris Match. This marked the beginning of his international fame.
His fame grew after he photographed Phil Bloom in 1967 and, in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel. Jaring traveled extensively abroad, primarily documenting everyday life.
According to Jaring, a good photograph is one that stands the test of time: “The spirit of the age—after time has passed and you still think it is good. Only then is it a good photograph.”
Jaring’s photographs received several awards, including first prize at World Press Photo in 1975 and the City of Amsterdam Photography Prize that same year. In 2002, the Municipality of Amsterdam awarded Jaring the Frans Banninck Cocq Medal for his significant contributions to photography in Amsterdam.
He was also an honorary citizen of Amsterdam. Several books featuring Jaring’s work were published by publishers including De Arbeiderspers and Nieuw Amsterdam.
The Amsterdam City Archives is delighted to add Cor Jaring’s work to its existing series of archives by renowned photographers. Jacob Olie, George Hendrik Breitner, Pieter Oosterhuis, and Bernard Eilers are among the photographers whose archives are managed by the Amsterdam City Archives.
The Amsterdam City Archives also works closely with the Maria Austria Institute, which manages the photographic archives of Sem Presser, Paul Huf, Bert Nienhuis, Wim van der Linden, and others.
