#chiarscuro

 HENDRIK KERSTENS

The Dutch photographer pays tongue-in-cheek homage to the Dutch master painters of the past by recreating photo portraits of his own daughter Paula. Mimicking their styles of lighting and composition, most notably the work of Johannes Vermeer (famous for his Girl with the Pearl Earring painting) is a recurring inspiration but Kerstens adds yet another layer of light to manipulate through his chiaroscuro lens...humor. 

In deadpan seriousness each photograph demands we accept its absurdity. Whether of a trash bag bonnet, or lampshade hat, or tablecloth habit--These jokes seem to question idolization of the subject while simultaneously beckoning us to admire how even the most mundane items are perfectly captured to seem painted by oil on canvas. 

Most remarkable of all perhaps, these photos, through camera lenses more than capable of capturing reality, bend instead to mimic the painted ideal of reality as explored by the foregone Dutch artists of light and shadow. Maybe that’s the joke, we can take pictures now of things as they are, but its still higher art to copy the painters who did it less realistically, by hand.

45 Degree.

Rim Lighting.

Páginas para colorear de hadas Barbie para niños

An affect of using contrasting light and shadows.

Chiaroscuro began in the 16th century, first brought around by Caravaggio - an Italian painter active in Rome- who would use dark backgrounds and spotlight his figures which would create high contrast powerful and dramatic works of art.