Skip to main content

Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Dutch, b. 1956
Since 1995, Dutch photographer Hendrik Kerstens has been photographing his daughter, Paula. His photographs have been collected by museums around the world and have inspired taste-makers as diverse as Elton John and Alexander McQueen. (McQueen, in fact based his Fall 2009 collection on Kerstens' image of Paula with a plastic bag as a head-dress, using the image as his invitation for the show.) Initially Kerstens' photographs were created out of the artist's desire to capture something of the fleeting moments that fade of childhood. The pictures recorded everyday events – his daughter's sunburn, the child's bath. However, one day there was a moment of revelation when Kerstens not only saw her in relation to the events of her own life, but also projected on her his interest in the Dutch painters of the seventeenth century. As Kerstens recalls, "One day Paula came back from horseback riding. She took off her cap and I was struck by the image of her hair held together by a hair-net. It reminded me of the portraits by the Dutch masters and I portrayed her in that fashion. After that I started to do more portraits in which I refer to the paintings of that era. The thing that fascinates me in particular is the way a seventeenth-century painting is seen as a surface which can be read as a description of everyday life as opposed to the paintings of the Italian renaissance, which usually tell a story. Northern European painting relies much more on craftsmanship and the perfect rendition of the subject. The use of light is instrumental in this."
 A number of the portraits of Paula are clearly reminiscent of Johannes Vermeer. The austerity of the photograph, its clarity, the serene expression on the young girl's face, and not least, the characteristic "Dutch" light, all combine to create this impression. However, Kerstens was not just imitating painting. As the series progressed, he became increasingly interested in the game of creating a conceptual and humorous dialog between past and present. The titles give the game away. "Napkin" looks like a maid's bonnet. In "Bag", a plastic grocery bag is shaped to look like a lace hood. In other pictures no pretense is made to imitate 17th century clothing but Paula's face and Kerstens' light turn a thoroughly modern hoodie into a classic and timeless garment. Conceptually, Kerstens' photographs play with the dialog between the mediums of painting and photography, with seriality, and time. On a more emotional level, they address everyday reality while expressing his love for his child, and the knowledge and development of his craft.
to
12
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
12
13
13
13
12
11
10
5
4
4
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
13
9
13
7,768
4,992
2,504
1,289
5
4
13
Artist: Hendrik Kerstens
Blue Turban 50x60
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Sold out in all formats - available in 50x60”
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Coif
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Coif - available is three formats - 20x24” - 30x40” and 50x60”
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Red Rabbit II
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, Red Rabbit II
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Cosy
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, Cosy
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Green Tuban
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, part of the turban trilogy, 30 x 40 inches
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Tinny
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, Tinny available in three formats: 20x24, 30x40 and 50x60 inches
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Cream
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, Cream available in three formats: 20x24, 30x40 and 50x60 inches
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Golden Cake Hat
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, Golden Cake Hat available in three formats: 20x24, 30x40 and 50x60 inches
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Book
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, Book, available in three formats: 20x24, 30x40 and 50x60 inches
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Tissue
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
pigment print
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Pigment

Tails 2
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
pigment print
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Pigment

Sunburn
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Pigment print
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Pigment

Bathing Cap
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Pigment print
Category

20th Century Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Pigment

Related Items
Selfie @ Altitude - Belgium 2017 - Limited Edition # 3/7 Fine Art Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
This is # 3/7 Fine Art Print Limited Edition 42cm x 60 cm VADOR THE SPACE SHOW is the first exhibition of photographs by Stefan Darte which is currently b...
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment

Untitled (Nr. 0232) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
Untitled (Nr. 0232) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Ben Cope + Rowan Daly Off the Grid Off the Grid is the culmination of a six...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Alfred Hithcock with Dog
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white candid capture of famed director Alfred Hitchcock walking his dog. Alfred Hitchcock was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influentia...
Category

1950s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Alfred Hithcock with Dog
Alfred Hithcock with Dog
H 20 in W 16 in D 1 in
Untitled (Nr. 0232) Photography 18" x 24" Edition 2/24 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
Untitled (Nr. 0232) Photography 18" x 24" Edition 2/24 by Ben Cope Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Ben Cope + Rowan Daly Off the Grid Off the Grid is the culmination of a six-...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Christy Turlington, Luxor, Egypt, 1987 – Albert Watson, Celebrity, Fashion
By Albert Watson
Located in Zurich, CH
Albert WATSON (*1942, Scotland) Christy Turlington, Luxor, Egypt, 1987 1987 Archival pigment print Image 142 x 107 cm (55 7/8 x 42 1/8 in.) Edition of 10 Print only Albert Watson...
Category

1980s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Keith Richards "Airplane"
By Ethan Russell
Located in Mount Pleasant, SC
Keith Richards getting off airplane during "Exile on Main St." tour. 1972 Signed by photographer. Limited Edition photograph.
Category

1970s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Alina • # 4 of 6 • 59 cm x 42 cm
By Angelika Buettner
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Alina • 2009 • Edition of 18 prints in 3 different sizes. All prints are numbered and signed. Printed on Hahnemühle Archival Paper. Three different sizes are available, the series ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Paper, Digital Pigment

Rembrandt Series
By Carla van de Puttelaar
Located in Sante Fe, NM
I cherish a the Dutch Old Masters. As a contemporary artist, I work with the female nude and portraiture, so I was enthusiastic when the Rembrandt House approached me to create a new...
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Last Warrior, Kenya, Lion, animal, wildlife, black and white photography
By Joachim Schmeisser
Located in München, BY
Edition of 7 Signed on front or on an adhesive label This iconic Lion is called "Morani". He's one of the very famous "Musketeer" Coalition in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Joac...
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Christy Turlington, Luxor, Egypt, 1987 – Albert Watson, Celebrity, Fashion, Art
By Albert Watson
Located in Zurich, CH
Albert WATSON (*1942, Scotland) Christy Turlington, Luxor, Egypt, 1987 1987 Archival pigment print Image 142 x 107 cm (55 7/8 x 42 1/8 in.) Edition of 10; Ed. no. 9/10 Print only ...
Category

1980s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Boy in Doorway, Paris
By Marc Yankus
Located in New York, NY
Archival pigment print Signed, titled, numbered, and dated, verso 11 x 17 inches, sheet (Edition of 15) 17 x 22 inches, sheet (Edition of 15) This photograph is offered by ClampAr...
Category

1990s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Untitled (Nr. 0382) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
Untitled (Nr. 0382) Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Ben Cope + Rowan Daly Off the Grid Off the Grid is the culmination of a six...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Previously Available Items
Paper Lace
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Hendrik Kerstens, Paper Lace available in three formats: 20x24, 30x40 and 50x60 inches
Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Cover
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
pigment print
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Pigment

Napkin
By Hendrik Kerstens
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Limited edition print
Category

20th Century Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Photography

Materials

Digital Pigment

Hendrik Kerstens photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Hendrik Kerstens photography available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of photography to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Hendrik Kerstens in pigment print, archival pigment print, c print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Hendrik Kerstens photography, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Hans Withoos, Ron van Dongen, and Van de Camp Heesterbeek. Hendrik Kerstens photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,380 and tops out at $12,000, while the average work can sell for $12,000.

Recently Viewed

View All