Rijksmuseum Exhibition Explores Early Photo Manipulation 'FAKE!'

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam presents 'FAKE! Early Photo Collages and Photomontages', an exhibition running from February 6 to May 25, 2026, in the Photo Gallery. Curated by Hans Rooseboom, the show features over 50 historical images from the museum's collection, tracing photographic manipulation from the medium's inception to World War II. Highlights include works by William H. 'Dad' Martin, known for exaggerated postcards of giant produce; Leonard de Koningh's double-exposure 'Man startled by his own reflection'; and John Heartfield's political photomontages opposing the Nazi regime. The exhibition also includes the Cottingley Fairies hoax by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, and pieces by Albert Huyot influenced by Dadaism and Cubism. Rooseboom notes that three-quarters of early manipulated images were made for fun, challenging modern assumptions about photo trickery. The show covers techniques from cutting and pasting to double exposure, exploring motives ranging from entertainment to political protest.