Dr. J.J. (Joen) Hermans
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Science
Area of expertise: Oil paint chemistry, FTIR spectroscopy, polymer degradation, conservation science, model systems design
Visiting address
- Turfdraagsterpad 15
- Room number: 3.12
Postal address
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Postbus 94552
1090 GN Amsterdam
Contact details
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Profiel
Dr. Joen Hermans is Assistant Professor Conservation Science, which is a joint position between the Faculty of Humanities, Department of Arts and Culture, and the Faculty of Science, Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS). He holds an additional position as researcher at the Rijksmuseum. He teaches several courses on the chemistry of materials and analytical methods for cultural heritage research, and currently (co-)supervises 5 PhD projects.
After obtaining a BSc and MSc degree in Chemistry at Utrecht University, Hermans completed a PhD at HIMS in 2017, studying the chemical processes leading to metal soap formation in oil paint. In 2018-2022, he worked on a NWO/Veni project developing new spectroscopic methods and model systems to study the diffusion, reactivity and behaviour of water in oil paint layers. Working between the UvA and the Rijksmuseum, collaborating with both fundamental chemists and conservators, Hermans aims to unravel the chemical structure of aging oil paint and provide scientific foundations for optimal cultural heritage conservation strategies. Hermans has co-authored >40 peer-reviewed publications.
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Publications
- refereed (37)
- professional (2)
- conference contributions (8)
- recognitions (13)
- supervised theses (3)
- doctoral thesis (1)
- datasets (3)
2025
- Barannikov, R., Hermans, J. J., Plocek, J., Bezdicka, P., Vykydalova, A., Mahun, A., Kobera, L., & Svarcova, S. (2025). High temperature interactions of lead palmitate with linseed oil. Dalton Transactions, 54(14), 5764-5778. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT03267E
Duivenvoorden, J. R., Targowski, P., Sylwestrzak, M., Iwanicka, M., Striova, J., Quintero Balbás, D., Chaban, A., Fontana, R., Rosi, F., Sabatini, F., Cartechini, L., Doherty, B., Monico, L., Faluweki, M., Atkinson, P., Cheung, C. S., Liang, H., Hill, J. A., Magrini, D., ... Keune, K. (2025). How to approach long-term monitoring of chemical dynamics in oil paintings? npj Heritage Science, 13, Article 24. https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01583-4 [details]- Fazlic, I., Gonzalez, V., Vanmeert, F., Alvarez-Martin, A., Hermans, J., Flapper, J., de Bruin, B., Keune, K., & Cotte, M. (2025). Early formation and detection of lead-based products from PbO-oil paint systems. npj Heritage Science, 13, Article 430. https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01986-3
2024
- Barannikov, R., Vykydalova, A., Bezdicka, P., Hermans, J., Plocek, J., & Svarcova, S. (2024). Thermal behavior of mercury carboxylates as paintings' degradation products. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 149(23), 13773-13784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-024-13463-3 [details]
- DePolo, G., Iedema, P., Shull, K., & Hermans, J. (2024). Comprehensive Characterization of Drying Oil Oxidation and Polymerization Using Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy. Macromolecules, 57(17), 8263-8276. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.4c01164 [details]
- Richard, F., Hermans, J. J., & Angelova , L. (2024). Rigid Solvent-Gels in Paper Conservation: A New Approach to Sticky Problems. Journal of Paper Conservation, 25 (2), 86-106. https://doi.org/10.1080/18680860.2024.2343671 [details]
- dePolo, G., Lesaine, A., Faustini, M., Laporte, L., Thillaye du Boullay, C., Barthel, É., Hermans, J., Iedema, P. D., de Viguerie, L., & Shull, K. R. (2024). Using the Quartz Crystal Microbalance to Monitor the Curing of Drying Oils. Analytical Chemistry, 96(26), 10551-10558. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00938 [details]
- van't Hoff, T. E., Harmon, R. E., Orlova, Y., Hermans, J. J., Gambardella, A., & Iedema, P. D. (2024). Experimental validation of a reaction network model for autoxidation of linoleate esters. Progress in Organic Coatings, 189, Article 108363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108363 [details]
2023
- Duivenvoorden, J. R., Caporaletti, F., Woutersen, S., Keune, K., & Hermans, J. J. (2023). Nanoconfined Water Clusters in Zinc White Oil Paint. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 127(38), 19269-19277. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c04720 [details]
- Duivenvoorden, J. R., Kramer, R. P., van Eikema Hommes, M. H., Iedema, P. D., Hermans, J. J., & Keune, K. (2023). The distribution and transport of water in oil paintings: A numerical moisture diffusion model. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 202, Article 123682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2022.123682 [details]
- Eumelen, G. J. A. M., Bosco, E., Suiker, A. S. J., & Hermans, J. J. (2023). Chemo-mechanical model for degradation of oil paintings by amorphous and crystalline metal soaps. European Journal of Mechanics, A/Solids, 97, Article 104827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euromechsol.2022.104827 [details]
- Gonzalez, V., Fazlic, I., Cotte, M., Vanmeert, F., Gestels, A., De Meyer, S., Broers, F., Hermans, J., van Loon, A., Janssens, K., Noble, P., & Keune, K. (2023). Lead(II) Formate in Rembrandt's Night Watch: Detection and Distribution from the Macro- to the Micro-scale. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 62(16), Article e202216478. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202216478, https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202216478 [details]
- Gonzalez, V., Fazlic, I., Cotte, M., Vanmeert, F., Gestels, A., De Meyer, S., Broers, F., Hermans, J., van Loon, A., Janssens, K., Noble, P., & Keune, K. (2023). Lead(II) Formate in Rembrandt's Night Watch: Detection and Distribution from the Macro- to the Micro-scale. Angewandte Chemie, 135(16), Article e202216478. https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202216478, https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202216478 [details]
- Hermans, J., Helwig, K., Woutersen, S., & Keune, K. (2023). Traces of water catalyze zinc soap crystallization in solvent-exposed oil paints. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 25(7), 5701-5709. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cp04861b [details]
2021
- Hermans, J., Zuidgeest, L., Iedema, P., Woutersen, S., & Keune, K. (2021). The kinetics of metal soap crystallization in oil polymers. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 23(39), 22589-22600. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cp03479k
- Wolzak, L. A., Hermans, J. J., de Vries, F., van den Berg, K. J., Reek, J. N. H., Tromp, M., & Korstanje, T. J. (2021). Mechanistic elucidation of monoalkyltin(iv)-catalyzed esterification. Catalysis Science & Technology, 11(10), 3326-3332. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cy00184a [details]
2020
- Baij, L., Buijs, J., Hermans, J. J., Raven, L., Iedema, P. D., Keune, K., & Sprakel, J. (2020). Quantifying solvent action in oil paint using portable laser speckle imaging. Scientific Reports, 10, Article 10574. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67115-1 [details]
- Baij, L., Hermans, J., Ormsby, B., Noble, P., Iedema, P., & Keune, K. (2020). A review of solvent action on oil paint. Heritage Science, 8, Article 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-020-00388-x [details]
- Beerse, M., Keune, K., Iedema, P., Woutersen, S., & Hermans, J. (2020). Evolution of Zinc Carboxylate Species in Oil Paint Ionomers. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2(12), 5674–5685. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.0c00979 [details]
- Eumelen, G. J. A. M., Bosco, E., Suiker, A. S. J., Hermans, J. J., van Loon, A., Keune, K., & Iedema, P. D. (2020). Computational modelling of metal soap formation in historical oil paintings: the influence of fatty acid concentration and nucleus geometry on the induced chemo-mechanical damage. Applied Sciences, 2(7), Article 1310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-3038-z [details]
- Hermans, J., & Helwig, K. (2020). The Identification of Multiple Crystalline Zinc Soap Structures Using Infrared Spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy, 74(12), 1505-1514. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003702820935183 [details]
- Álvarez-Martín, A., De Winter, S., Nuyts, G., Hermans, J., Janssens, K., & Van der Snickt, G. (2020). Multi-modal approach for the characterization of resin carriers in Daylight Fluorescent Pigments. Microchemical Journal, 159, Article 105340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2020.105340 [details]
2019
- Baij, L., Astefanei, A., Hermans, J., Brinkhuis, F., Groenewegen, H., Chassouant, L., Johansson, S., Corthals, G., Tokarski, C., Iedema, P., & Keune, K. (2019). Solvent-mediated extraction of fatty acids in bilayer oil paint models: a comparative analysis of solvent application methods. Heritage Science, 7, Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-019-0273-y [details]
- Baij, L., Chassouant, L., Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., & Iedema, P. D. (2019). The concentration and origins of carboxylic acid groups in oil paint. RSC Advances, 9(61), 35559-35564. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ra06776k [details]
- Hermans, J. J., Baij, L., Koenis, M., Keune, K., Iedema, P. D., & Woutersen, S. (2019). 2D-IR spectroscopy for oil paint conservation: Elucidating the water-sensitive structure of zinc carboxylate clusters in ionomers. Science Advances, 5(6), Article eaaw3592. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaw3592 [details]
- Raven, L., Bisschoff, M., Leeuwestein, M., Geldof, M., Hermans, J. J., Stols-Witlox, M., & Keune, K. (2019). Delamination Due to Zinc Soap Formation in an Oil Painting by Piet Mondrian (1872-1944): Conservation Issues and Possible Implications for Treatment. In F. Casadio, K. Keune, P. Noble, A. Van Loon, E. Hendriks, S. A. Centeno, & G. Osmond (Eds.), Metal Soaps in Art: Conservation and Research (pp. 343-358). (Cultural Heritage Science). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90617-1_20 [details]
2018
- Baij, L., Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., & Iedema, P. (2018). Time-Dependent ATR-FTIR Spectroscopic Studies on Fatty Acid Diffusion and the Formation of Metal Soaps in Oil Paint Model Systems. Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 57(25), 7351-7354. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201712751, https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.201712751 [details]
- Baij, L., Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., & Iedema, P. (2018). Time-Dependent ATR-FTIR Spectroscopic Studies on Fatty Acid Diffusion and the Formation of Metal Soaps in Oil Paint Model Systems. Angewandte Chemie, 130(25), 7473-7476. https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.201712751, https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201712751 [details]
- Baij, L., Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., & Iedema, P. D. (2018). Time-Dependent ATR-FTIR Spectroscopic Studies on Solvent Diffusion and Film Swelling in Oil Paint Model Systems. Macromolecules, 51(18), 7134-7144. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00890 [details]
- Hermans, J., Osmond, G., van Loon, A., Iedema, P., Chapman, R., Drennan, J., Jack, K., Rasch, R., Morgan, G., Zhang, Z., Monteiro, M., & Keune, K. (2018). Electron Microscopy Imaging of Zinc Soaps Nucleation in Oil Paint. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 24(3), 318-322. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1431927618000387 [details]
2017
- Baij, L., Keune, K., Hermans, J., Noble, P., & Iedema, P. (2017). Time-dependent ATR-FTIR studies on the release of solvents from cleaning gels into model systems of oil paint binding media. In L. V. Angelova, B. Ormsby, J. H. Townsend, & R. Wolbers (Eds.), Gels in the Conservation of Art (pp. 316-321). Archetype Publications. [details]
2016
- Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., van Loon, A., & Iedema, P. D. (2016). The crystallization of metal soaps and fatty acids in oil paint model systems. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 18(16), 10896-10905. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6cp00487c [details]
- Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., van Loon, A., Corkery, R. W., & Iedema, P. D. (2016). Ionomer-like structure in mature oil paint binding media. RSC Advances, 6, 93363-93369. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA18267D [details]
- Kryven, I., Duivenvoorden, J., Hermans, J., & Iedema, P. (2016). Random Graph Approach to Multifunctional Molecular Networks. Macromolecular Theory and Simulations, 25(5), 449-465. https://doi.org/10.1002/mats.201600052 [details]
2015
- Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., van Loon, A., & Iedema, P. D. (2015). An infrared spectroscopic study of the nature of zinc carboxylates in oil paintings. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 30(7), 1600-1608. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ja00120j [details]
2014
- Hermans, J. J., & Iedema, P. D. (2014). Comment on the paper "Odd-even alternation in a homologous series of Zn(II) n-alkanoates" by P.N. Nelson, H.A. Ellis and R.A. Taylor [J. Mol. Struc. 986 (2011) 10-15]. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1070, 43-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2014.04.026 [details]
- Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., van Loon, A., Corkery, R. W., & Iedema, P. D. (2014). The molecular structure of three types of long-chain zinc(II) alkanoates for the study of oil paint degradation. Polyhedron, 81, 335-340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2014.06.030 [details]
2014
- Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., van Loon, A., Stols-Witlox, M. J. N., Corkery, R. W., & Iedema, P. D. (2014). The synthesis of new types of lead and zinc soaps: a source of information for the study of oil paint degradation. In J. Bridgland (Ed.), Building strong culture through conservation: preprints ICOM-CC 17th Triennial Conference: 17-19 September 2014, Melbourne, Australia (pp. 1603). International Council of Museums. http://www.icom-cc2014.org/docs/content/Melbourne_Table_of_Contents.pdf [details]
- Iedema, P. D., Hermans, J. J., Keune, K., van Loon, A., & Stols-Witlox, M. J. N. (2014). Mathematical modeling of mature oil paint networks. In J. Bridgland (Ed.), Building strong culture through conservation: preprints ICOM-CC 17th Triennial Conference: 17-19 September 2014, Melbourne, Australia (pp. 1604). Paris: International Council of Museums. [details]
2018
- Keune, K., Baij, C. L. M., Chassouant, L. A., Hermans, J. J., & Iedema, P. D. (2018). The influence of ZnO concentration in zinc white model paints on metal soap crystallization. Poster session presented at CHEMCH2018, Bucharest, Romania.
- Keune, K., Baij, C. L. M., Hermans, J. J., Astefanei, A., Groenewegen, H., Brinkhuis, F., ... Iedema, P. D. (2018). Tailored model systems revealing the impact of cleaning: a comparative study on different methods of solvent application. Poster session presented at NANORESTART, Gothenburg, Denmark.
- Keune, K., Chassouant, L. A., Baij, C. L. M., Hermans, J. J., & Iedema, P. D. (2018). The reduction of linseed oil to understand the hydrolysis effect on the drying process of the oil binder in paintings. Poster session presented at CHEMCH2018, Bucharest, Romania.
- Keune, K., Hermans, J. J., Baij, C. L. M., Woutersen, S., & Iedema, P. D. (2018). Unravelling the structure of metal carboxylates in ageing oil paint with 2D‐IR spectroscopy. Poster session presented at Gordon Research Conference on Scientific Methods in Cultural Heritage Research, Barcelona, Spain.
2017
- Keune, K., Huijbregts, Z., Kramer, R. P., Hermans, J. J., Hageraats, S., Schellen, H. L., & van Eikema Hommes, M. H. (2017). Indoor climate induced degradation differences of mature oil paintings. Poster session presented at ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2016
- Keune, K., Hermans, J. J., Bertrand, L., Thoury, M., Sandt, C., Reguer, S., Torkarski, C., Corkery, R. W., Iedema, P. D., Sawicka, A., & van Loon, A. (2016). Investigation of the Dynamic Processes Underlying Lead Soap-Related Degradation Phenomena in Multi-Layer Model Systems. Poster session presented at Metal Soaps in Art, Amsterdam.
- Keune, K., Hermans, J. J., Iedema, P. D., van Loon, A., & Baij, C. L. M. (2016). Time-resolved ATR-FTIR methods for the study of dynamic processes in oil paints. Poster session presented at Gordon Research Conference - Scientific Methods in Cultural Heritage Research, Newry Maine.
- Keune, K., Hermans, J. J., Thoury, M., van der Snickt, G., Hoppe, R., Diependaal, H., Bisschoff, M., & van Loon, A. (2016). Paint delamination as a result of zinc soap formation in an early Mondrian painting. Poster session presented at Metal Soaps in Art, Amsterdam.
Prize / grant
- Hermans, J. (2024). Funding for art conservation research: PREservation of PAintings in a sustainable futuRE (PREPARE). https://hims.uva.nl/content/news/2024/07/funding-for-art-conservation-research.html?origin=4zNaIwCsT1iMc%2FL4U9Sh2Q
- Hermans, J. J. (2018). Veni grant.
- Hermans, J. J. (2017). FameLab Amsterdam. http://hims.uva.nl/shared/faculteiten/en/faculteit-der-natuurwetenschappen-wiskunde-en-informatica/news/2017/03/famelab-winners2017.html
Membership / relevant position
- Hermans, J. (2019). Membership evaluation panel NWA-Ideeëngenerator grant scheme of NWO, NWO.
Media appearance
- Keune, K. & Hermans, J. (03-02-2023). Vreemde verbinding ontdekt in de Nachtwacht van Rembrandt Scientias. Vreemde verbinding ontdekt in de Nachtwacht van Rembrandt. https://scientias.nl/vreemde-verbinding-ontdekt-in-de-nachtwacht-van-rembrandt/
- Keune, K. & Hermans, J. (01-02-2023). UvA chemists discover new lead compound in The Night Watch Folia. UvA chemists discover new lead compound in The Night Watch. https://www.folia.nl/international/155359/uva-chemists-discover-new-lead-compound-in-the-night-watch
- Keune, K. & Hermans, J. (22-01-2023). Opmerkelijke chemische verbinding in De Nachtwacht gevonden BNR Radio. Opmerkelijke chemische verbinding in De Nachtwacht gevonden. https://www.bnr.nl/podcast/wetenschap-vandaag/10501877/opmerkelijke-chemische-verbinding-in-nachtwacht-gevonden
- Hermans, J. (22-06-2021). Joen Hermans about the chemistry of oil paint. Joen Hermans about the chemistry of oil paint.
- Hermans, J. (06-06-2021). Joen Hermans about master painters and chemistry AD. Joen Hermans about master painters and chemistry. https://www.ad.nl/wetenschap/schilders-in-de-17de-eeuw-waren-ook-meesters-in-chemie~a262e78a/#:~:text=Wat%20zegt%20de%20wetenschapMeesterwer…
- Hermans, J. (06-05-2021). Wat maakt Rembrandt een scheikundig wonder? Universiteit van Nederland. Wat maakt Rembrandt een scheikundig wonder?. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hzzWeyvWpc
- Hermans, J. J. (02-06-2017). The harmful effect of metal soaps on oil paintings. The harmful effect of metal soaps on oil paintings. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/06/02/verderf-onder-de-verfhuid-10892279-a1561511
Talk / presentation
- Keune, K. (speaker), Baij, C. L. M. (speaker), Hermans, J. J. (speaker) & Iedema, P. D. (speaker) (2017). Time-resolved ATR-FTIR as a tool to monitor chemical reactivity in oil paint model systems, Technart 2017 , Bilbao.
Others
- Hermans, J. J. (participant) (2017). cum laude graduation (other). http://hims.uva.nl/content/news/2017/05/chemistry-phd-student-joen-hermans-graduates-cum-laude.html
2025
2024
2024
- Hermans, J. J. & dePolo, G. (17-5-2024). ATR-FTIR spectroscopy data of drying oil polymerization. Universiteit van Amsterdam. https://doi.org/10.21942/uva.25399810.v1
2021
- Wolzak, L., Hermans, J., Tromp, M., de Vries, F., Korstanje, T. J., van den Berg, K. J. & Reek, J. N. H. (2021). CCDC 2049109: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination. The Cambridge Structural Database. https://doi.org/10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc26s89l
2020
- Suiker, A. S. J., van Loon, A., Eumelen, G. J. A. M., Keune, K., Bosco, E., Hermans, J. & Iedema, P. (2020). Computational modelling of metal soap formation in historical oil paintings: the influence of fatty acid concentration and nucleus geometry on the induced chemo-mechanical damage. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4059437
This list of publications is extracted from the UvA-Current Research Information System. Questions? Ask the library or the Pure staff of your faculty / institute. Log in to Pure to edit your publications. Log in to Personal Page Publication Selection tool to manage the visibility of your publications on this list. -
Ancillary activities
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Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
I carry out research and education projects on the chemistry of oil paintings -
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Chemisch onderzoeker
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Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Duivenvoorden, J. R., Targowski, P., Sylwestrzak, M., Iwanicka, M., Striova, J., Quintero Balbás, D., Chaban, A., Fontana, R., Rosi, F., Sabatini, F., Cartechini, L., Doherty, B., Monico, L., Faluweki, M., Atkinson, P., Cheung, C. S., Liang, H., Hill, J. A., Magrini, D., ... Keune, K. (2025). How to approach long-term monitoring of chemical dynamics in oil paintings? npj Heritage Science, 13, Article 24.