Hendrik Kerstens’ portrait photography
Dutch photographer Hendrik Kersten channels Vermeer, Rembrandt, and a host of his other forbears in his unsettling portraits of his daughter, Paula. Although artist and subject are as familiar as two people can be, Kersten manages to make Paula look distant and guarded, whether he’s capturing her blemishes or dolling her up. None of his images seem idealized or reverent, but rather voyeuristic and distant, and have a candidness about them that belies the precision and discipline Kersten actually puts into his work.
Tagged: Dutch photographers, portraits
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YOU'RE SAYING (5)
bridie said | 21 May, 2008
I fi nd it disturbing that he photographs his daughter like this….does anyone seriously think that is interesting or relevant just because it channels western artists? With Vermeer in particular the relationship that he had with his subjects was as important and well documented as his craft and technique. How can the two be isolated…I don’t think they can be,
mp said | 23 May, 2008
The style is quite beautiful but also find this a little disturbing. Voyeurism alright… and more than a little creepy. This is very similar to the new Bill Henson photography exhibition that was to open in Sydney this week. It’s a relief that it has been shut down and it’s now being investigated by police. What happened to the normal childhood that kids used to enjoy? I’m all for pushing the boundries in art but there’s a limit.
yasmin said | 23 May, 2008
yeah, i think it’s creepy too. when i first saw the image of the sunburnt girl i thought ‘cool!’ ‘cos it’s really raw, and is capturing someone in an unbeautiful state in the techniques of a typically beautiful image. and it is a beautiful image. she looks like a teenager, and i thought if she’s chosen to do this modelling with a photographer good on her. but the fact that it’s her father changes everything. it means the power dynamic between them is unlikely to ever be equal, as he’s an authority figure. and why do people think it’s ok for a father to take topless photos of his teenage daughter? i don’t care if it’s in the name of art. it’s still inappropriate.
Joske said | 25 May, 2008
The odd thing is that it also adds something for me. Attempting to recreate classical styles of paintings with a plastic bag on your head or an Ipod in your hands just has more humour in the familiar relation that is the case here. But it probably depends on your attitude towards it. I don’t nessecearily think the father-daughter realtion here needs to be seen in the authoritive way, even though there’s a possibility to it. Mayby I’m being naive in giving it the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I’m too inclined to see people as autonomous individuals. Then again, doubting someones autonomy as an individual doesnt seem like such a nice thing to do either. So I stuck to trying to see it in a positive way, and really liked the pictures. Yes, some where still slightly unsetteling, but all in all (and maybe because of it?), the portraits were really well done and of great originality.
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Zac said | 21 May, 2008
Living in Bondi as I do, each summer I see dozens of crimson faced tourists who’ve underestimated the strength of our sun. Never thought of photographing them though – great post!