Free spirit Ivo Blom
On 1 April, film historian Ivo Blom retired. With him departs a widely respected teacher-researcher with unique expertise.
Ivo specialised in the study of early film culture and the oeuvre of the Italian director Luchino Visconti. He has many publications to his name, including his influential study of the renowned Desmet Collection at Eye Filmmuseum and the recent monograph Quo Vadis, Cabiria and the ‘Archaeologists’ on the interaction between Italian silent film, art and architecture. As a researcher, Ivo not only played a significant role in the development of film history as a scientific discipline, but also in the appreciation of the Italian and Dutch film heritage.
For more than 25 years, Ivo taught in the interdisciplinary bachelor's programme in Media, Art, Design and Architecture and in the master's programme in Comparative Arts and Media Studies at VU Amsterdam. He loved taking his students on excursions: from film locations in Rome and Amsterdam to film laboratories and archives. His student engagement was second to none, as was his passion for the field. In this way, Ivo has permanently inspired generations of film students.
Alumna Rixt Weeber:
“During one of our very first outings, to the Tuschinski Theater, I was pleasantly surprised that he immediately knew my name by heart. That personal, committed approach has always typified him as a teacher. As a thesis supervisor, he was sharp, thorough and extremely supportive. And also later, when I applied for a scholarship at the KNIR in Rome, Ivo helped me a lot.”
Alumnus Sjoerd Blessing:
“In the middle of the pandemic, I suddenly received a card from Ivo Blom, my thesis supervisor at the time. On the front: a still from The Ravine of Death (1923), a cliffhanger, literally. On the back he wrote: “Just like with the cliffhanger, it will be fine, even if it looks daunting now. Good luck with writing!” That was typical Ivo: a film connoisseur pur sang, but always with an eye for his student.”
Alumna Işınsu Topçuoğlu:
“Ivo is a kind and supportive teacher, often making light jokes that put everyone at ease, even when we were discussing serious or complex subjects. As a curious and enthusiastic student interested in cinema and exhibitions, I can say that Ivo’s guidance has had a truly crucial and lasting impact on my academic and personal journey.”
magazine for social sciences and humanities alumni june 2025