Marjolijn Bol

Marjolijn Bol is a researcher at the University of Amsterdam (Department of Conservation & Restoration) and an affiliated scholar at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG). Her work bridges art history, material science, and the history of science, focusing on premodern material mimesis—how artisans imitated costly materials using cheaper alternatives—and its impact on artistic, scientific, and social practices.

Her research explores the technical and theoretical dimensions of material substitution, including historical reconstructions of lost techniques. Key projects include studies on translucent oil paints, imitation gemstones, and stained-glass substitutes. Bol’s interdisciplinary approach integrates craft knowledge, optical studies, and social history.

• 2012: PhD thesis on oil varnishing and glazing in medieval panel painting
• 2013–2015: Postdoctoral research at MPIWG on 'Crafting Splendor,' 'Examining Light,' and 'Golden Wood and Panels of Porphyry'
• 2014: Veni grant recipient for 'Art and Deception'

She also teaches 'Art Technological Source Research' at the University of Amsterdam.