1868

Johan Franciscus Joseph (Johan) Huijsser is born on 18 July in Bloemendaal, as the seventh of eleven children in the Huijsser family (also written as ‘Huysser’). Johan’s father, Gerardus Hendricus Huijsser, is a merchant working in the family business, E&A Scheer, located in Amsterdam. Johan’s mother is Wilhelmina Elisabeth Maria Gompertz. Both parents were born in Amsterdam. On 31 July, the Huijsser family moves to Nieuwe Heerengracht 95 (Neighbourhood V, Ring 3) in Amsterdam.

Ca. 1875

At a young age, Johan comes into contact with photography through his eldest brother, Frans, who takes photos together with his childhood friend, Ignatius Bispinck. Frans, Johan, and Ignatius will later collaborate on a frequent basis, as well influencing one another’s work.

1877

G.H. Huijsser, Johan’s father, dies on 8 March. Wilhelmina Huijsser, Johan’s mother, takes over the running of the family business, E&A Scheer. After school, Johan is obliged to assist his mother with the business, together with Frans.

1884–‘85

On 29 September, Johan Huijsser moves with his mother, four sisters and a brother to the city of Valkenburg aan de Geul, where they settle at an unknown address. Wilhelmina Huijsser’s profession is stated for the first (and the last) time as ‘rentmeester’ (an administrator), as listed next to her name in the civil registry. On 13 October, Wilhelmina registers in the city of Maastricht, along with Johan, a brother, and three sisters. They reside at Boschstraat 1221. On 30 May 1885, Johan moves on his own to Markt 1194 (= currently Markt 14) in Maastricht.

Ca. 1888

Johan Huijsser begins his career as an amateur photographer, which he will actively continue for the remainder of his life. He uses one of the earliest models of hand cameras to take his photos.

Besides photography, Huijsser is also involved in bicycle racing. He wins countless awards: in 1888, a prize for breaking the Dutch record in the 10 km race for the high two-wheeler (with an average speed of 35 km per hour); for the Championship of the Continent and the Netherlands; and for 24-hour races non-stop. Over the years, Huijsser wins approximately 120 medals in this sport.

1889

On 11 April, Johan Huijsser departs for Amsterdam. On 13 April, he registers with the city at Rokin 43 (Neighbourhood A, Ring 1).

1890

Johan Huijsser lives in Amsterdam until his departure for Haarlem on 2 January, where he stays until 30 January. From this day forward, he is again registered in Bloemendaal and lives at the address ‘B Number 153’ (‘B’ for Bloemendaal) until August. In August, his address is listed as ‘B Number 55’ in the Bloemendaal city archive. It is the same house, but with a different numbering. Also living at this address are his mother, brother, and three sisters. In the civil registry, the following annotation has been made next to the name of Johan Huijsser: ‘officially registered on the occasion of the 7th general population census’.

On 28 August, Johan weds Augustina Josephina Theresia Hubertina Routs in Bloemendaal. Johan’s brother, Frans, is an official witness of the marriage. Augustina J.T.H. Routs was born on 20 August 1867 in Maastricht, where she lives with her parents, Josephus Hubertus Routs, an employee with the postal service, and Josephine Henrietta Hubertina van Boom, up to the time of her marriage.

On 15 October, the young couple moves to Leidschegracht 115 (Neighbourhood II, Ring 4) in Amsterdam.

1892–‘95

Johan Huijsser accepts the position of librarian at the AAFV (Amsterdamsche Amateur Fotografen Vereniging, ‘Amsterdam Amateur Photographers Association), which he fulfils from 1 September 1892 to 31 August 1895.

On 6 March 1895 (as reported in Lux magazine), Huijsser informs his colleagues that he will not be able to carry out his tasks as archivist/librarian for much longer due to illness. He announces that he will soon be resigning. This subsequently occurs five months later.

1892–1900

Johan and Augustina Huijsser have six children together.

The first child, Gerardus Henricus Josephus Alphonsus (Gerard) Huijsser, is born on 8 June 1892 in Amsterdam. (He later becomes a respected expressionist painter. Gerard Huijsser dies on 26 July 1970 in Hilversum.)

The second child, Johannes Franciscus Josephus Marie (Joh.), is born on 1 January 1894 in Bloemendaal. (He dies on 17 August 1978 in Amsterdam.)

The third child, Henri Johan Jozef Marie (Han), is born on 21 March 1895 in Amsterdam. (He dies on 19 December 1963 in Bussum.)

The fourth child, a daughter, Joanna Maria Augustina Josepha (Anny), is born on 3 October 1896 in Bloemendaal. (It is not known when and where she died.)

The fifth child, Wilhelmina Adriana Augustina Maria (Mien), is born on 6 September 1898 in Bloemendaal. (She dies on 30 April 1975 in Tilburg.)

The sixth child, Augustina Laura Maria Johanna (Stien), is born on 10 July 1900 in Bloemendaal. (She dies on 24 October 1981 in Heemstede.)

1893–‘96

On 6 May 1893, Johan Huijsser and his family move to Vondelstraat 9 (Neighbourhood XX) in Amsterdam, where he resides until 9 April 1896. On this day, the Huijsser family moves to Bloemendaal.

On 22 April 1896, Johan and his family register at B Number 245/340 (= probably the present-day Parkweg 16) in Bloemendaal, where he resides for the rest of his life. Huijsser has a darkroom in the attic.

1894

Frans, Johan, and Henri Huijsser participate in the Internationale Tentoonstelling tot Bevordering der Fotografie (‘International Exhibition for the Promotion of Photography’), held from 2 to 10 June in Groningen. In Lux (p. 342), the critic Meinard van Os writes: ‘I do not evaluate lantern slide plates, but on the list of Joh. F.J. and Henri Huijsser, there are subjects that I greatly admire: the entire collection, much of which is well known, upholds their honour.’

1895

On 25 April, Johan Huijsser presents a lecture to the HAFC (Haarlemsche Amateur Fotografen Club, ‘Haarlem Amateur Photographers Club’) on the topic of ‘Afdekken bij het afdrukken’ (‘Masking when Printing’), as well providing practical examples.

Huijsser is a member of the organising committee for the Internationale Fotografie Tentoonstelling (‘International Photography Exhibition’), held at the Militiezaal (‘Militia Hall’) in Amsterdam from 8 to 22 September. J. van Geuns, the critic of the Tijdschrift der Photographie (‘Magazine of Photography’), writes that a number of exhibitors at this exhibition could still learn something at this exhibition, e.g. by examining the non-competition work submitted by Huijser: ‘As an example I would first like to mention the entry of Johan F J. Huijsser, who, with his collection of platinotypes, provides proof of having an open eye for beauty, and who manages to convey this back very charmingly.’

Ca. 1898–Ca. 1915

During this period, Johan Huijsser is intensively involved in the family business, E&A Scheer, together with his two brothers, Frans and Henri. In 1898, Johan becomes the company director, with Frans working as a business partner.

1900–Ca. 1901

The blurred photographic image appeals to Huijsser. He begins working with the monocle lens for making portraits and genre images, which he prints on platinum paper. During this period, Huijsser studies foreign publications. In this way, he becomes acquainted and begins working with the gum printing process. According to Focus (1921, p. 364), he is one of the first people in the Netherlands to apply this process and the monocle in obtaining blur.

1901–Ca. 1913

After a fruitful period of exhibiting photos and winning medals at exhibitions, Huijsser’s photographic activities come to a temporary halt. The cause is his poor health, i.e. recurring complications related to asthma. In spite of his weak condition, he takes part in several special events hosted by his association. He is present at the celebratory opening of the new ‘Clubrooms of the N.A.F.V. [‘Netherlands Amateur Photographers Association’]’ at the Lux building in Amsterdam on 11 September 1911, as affirmed by his signature on the guest list.

1910

Huijsser’s mother, Wilhelmina E.M. Huijsser-Gompertz, dies on 8 June.

1913

In Lux (p. 166), A. van Dijk, the secretary of the NAFV, states that Johan Huijsser—following years of rest—is returning to the association and is once again active as an amateur photographer.

According to the minutes of the in-house meeting of the NAFV, there will be frequent meetings in the months February and March concerning the ‘One Man Exhibition of Mr. Joh.F. Huijsser’. During the meeting of 12 February, Huijsser himself asks if the exhibition can be postponed by a couple of days. His request is approved, with the exhibition ultimately held from 17 March to 2 April.

Ca. 1914

Huijsser becomes a board member of the Bloemendaalsche Amateur Fotografen Vereeniging (‘Bloemendaal Amateur Photographers Association’). (How long he fulfils this function is not known.)

Ca. 1914–‘24

When participating in exhibitions, Huijsser often submits photos produced in what he calls the ‘pigmo process’: e.g. the bromoil process, which is becoming more popular in the Netherlands. Huijsser finds this process well suited for representing personal impressions, in contrast to the sharp ‘natuurcopie’ (‘nature copy’) of the past.

Huijsser likes to travel. The photos he takes during his trips are also submitted to competitions. Lantern slide plates remain Huijsser’s favoured technique for exhibitions and yearly competitions.

1915-‘16

The annual report of the NAFV for 1915–1916 states that Huijsser presents a lecture on ‘Bromoil Transfer’.

1917

In the minute book (board meeting 14 June 1916–17 September 1924) of the NAFV, the following annotations are made concerning Johan Huijsser: 11 April 1917, ‘…on which as a special attraction the very current process, ‘the (brom-) oil print’ was practically demonstrated by Mr. Joh.F. Huijsser.’; on 13 June 1917, ‘also coming in as a donation of the chairman, a large number of reprints by J.F. Huijsser/Memo for bromoil print, for which the forwarding to the participants in the “Week of Theory Evenings” will most certainly be appreciated by them. Several copies will also be sent to Mr. J.F. Huijsser.

The minutes of the in-house meeting of 23 May 1917 mention the following: ‘”Tips and advice for the coming season”. A talk with circa 150 lantern slide plates by Mr. Joh.F. Huijsser. The hall is artificially darkened for good projection.’ Huijsser’s presentation is commented upon in a newspaper review (unknown) shortly thereafter: ‘(…) J.F.J. Huijsser who spoke about “Tips and advice for photographic shots”. He gave a highly entertaining talk with 150 plates, shots of Landscapes, Seascapes and Genre Images.’

1918

The minutes of the internal meeting of the NAFV of 20 February state that Johan Huijsser received a diploma in the form of a lantern slide plate during a lantern plate competition.

In the same year, Huijsser assumes the function of supervising director (‘commissaris’) in the Bloemendaalsche Amateur Fotografen Vereeniging, which he fulfils together with Ignatius Bispinck.

Ca. 1919–‘24

Huijsser serves as chairman of the AFV of Bloemendaal, most likely from after 1918 until his death in 1924.

1924

On 10 March, Huijsser’s childhood friend, Ignatius Bispinck, dies. In his personal notes, he writes the following text for a memorial speech: ‘More than fifty years, yes, as far as my memory goes back, I have been friends with him, even if he was several years older, and still, I remember him as a photographer. In those years long past, we lived next door to each other and I was allowed, in the company of an older brother, to go along to Bispinck. All kinds of mysterious things then happened there.’

On 16 April, Johan dies from the consequences of asthma during a holiday in Nervi, Italy. He is buried at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Bloemendaal, alongside Bispinck.

1942

Huijsser’s widow, Augustina J.T.H. Huijsser-Routs, dies on 28 January in Haarlem.