FONDS
The collection of fonds includes some 40 archives, fonds and large ensembles of Belgian photographers and companies from the 19th century to the present day. All in all, these photographic and paper archives comprise almost 3 million items. This makes it the largest collection of the FOMU in terms of size. The collection provides a good overview of photographic practice in Belgium, because it involves fonds from both professional and amateur photographers. Its content, size and nationality distinguish it from other collections in Belgium and abroad.
The collection took shape through donations, long-term loans and purchases. The most extensive fonds include the photo archives of Herman Selleslags and his father Rik Selleslags, which the FOMU has received on permanent loan, and the Historical Agfa-Gevaert Archives. Examples of some other fonds are those of Willy Kessels, Suzy Embo and Filip Tas.
Filip J. Tas, Self-portrait with rolleiflex in a convex mirror, circa 1960-1965, Collection FOMU © Filip J. Tas/SABAM
Herman Selleslags, Tom Waits, Brussels, 1968, Collection FOMU, © Herman Selleslags/SOFAM
Photo collage of the Gevaert factory used for an advertisement in Gevaert Photo-Service, Collection FOMU © Agfa-Gevaert
Suzy Embo, Jam Sessions, La Bosse, 1969, Collection FOMU, P/1996/14, © Suzy Embo/FOMU
Willy Kessels, publicité par photo, Willy Kessels, 1929, Collection FOMU, P/2013/62, © Willy Kessels/SOFAM
Patrick De Spiegelaere, Night vigil of scouts at the Royal Palace in Brussels after the death of King Baudouin, who died on July 31, 1993, Collection FOMU, P/2005/16/10, © Patrick De Spiegelaere/SOFAM
Gilbert d'Haen, Fashion photo, 1965, Collection FOMU, P/2012/590/232, © Gilbert d'Haen
Frank Philippi, Louis Armstrong in the backstage of the Ancienne Belgique in Antwerp, Collection FOMU, P/2011/183, © Frank Philippi/SABAM
Longinus De Munter, Resignation to the hard fate, Collection FOMU, P/1990/93, © Longinus De Munter
Poster from 1958 for Gevacolor (Photoproducten Gevaert N.V., Antwerp-Mortsel), 1958, Collection FOMU, P/2012/316
Rik Selleslags, Survivors from the "Titanic", Collection FOMU, 2018/45/144/3, © Rik Selleslags
Filip J. Tas, Crossroad with bollards, road signs, Collection FOMU, P/1976/9/4, © Filip J. Tas / SABAM
Frank Philippi, Fashion shoot on location with a model (female), Brussels, 1963, Collection FOMU, P/2012/285, © Frank Philippi / SABAM
Herman Selleslags, Julien Schoenaerts, 1981, Collection FOMU, P/1988/152, © Herman Selleslags
Frank Philippi, Studio portret of Jef Verheyen, Paul Ibou, Ivo Michiels and Frank Philippi, Brussels, 1972, Collection FOMU, P/1981/159, © Frank Philippi
Package for photographic paper “Gevaert 500 Postcards Vigorous, s.d., Collection FOMU, 1/GEV/16/44
The 'Fotokontrool' department responsible for the inspection of the manufactured photo paper, 1927, Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Historical Archive Agfa-Gevaert, D560B, Collection FOMU
Frank Philippi, Visitors with cameras at the 1958 World's Fair, Heizel, Brussels, 1958, Collection FOMU, P/2012/149/1 © Frank Philippi
Willy Kessels, Fotogram, 1932, Collection FOMU, P/2013/75, © Willy Kessels / SOFAM
Herman Selleslags, Selfie, New York, Times Square, 1971, Collection FOMU © Herman Selleslags
Gevacolor school in Mortsel, around 1965, Historical collection Agfa-Gevaert, D144 C D, Collection FOMU
Neonsign Gevacolor, 1960-1964, Collection FOMU, 2022/2, ©Gevaert
Frank Philippi, Traction-Avant, Austria, 1953, Collection FOMU, P/2012/165, © Frank Philippi
Suzy Embo, Dotremont with a cigarette in his nose, 1973, Collection FOMU, P/1996/16/34, © Suzy Embo/FOMU
Presentation of the first paper production by Lieven Gevaert in 1894 in Antwerp, Collection FOMU Historical archive Agfa-Gevaert D49