Cover

Photograph

-

Calvin University Center Art Gallery

The image portrays a person gazing directly at the viewer with an air of quiet confidence, wearing a voluminous, silky white headpiece reminiscent of an elaborate chef’s hat or traditional headwear, resting gracefully atop their head. The headpiece adds an intriguing and artistic element to the composition, creating visual contrast against the dark background and the person's simple, dark attire. The lighting accentuates their fair complexion and serene expression, evoking a sense of timeless elegance and poise.

The image portrays a person gazing directly at the viewer with an air of quiet confidence, wearing a voluminous, silky white headpiece reminiscent of an elaborate chef’s hat or traditional headwear, resting gracefully atop their head. The headpiece adds an intriguing and artistic element to the composition, creating visual contrast against the dark background and the person's simple, dark attire. The lighting accentuates their fair complexion and serene expression, evoking a sense of timeless elegance and poise.

Name/Title

Cover

Entry/Object ID

2014.2.4

Description

Portrait of a blue-eyed, fair-skinned young woman dressed in dark clothing gazing to her left. On the woman's head is a white vacuum bag headdress.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

pigment print

Category

Historical, People, On-Display at Calvin University

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Hendrik Kerstens

Role

Photographer

Date made

2013

Dimensions

Dimension Description

image size

Height

25 in

Width

20 in

Dimension Description

frame size

Height

26-1/2 in

Width

21-5/8 in

Exhibitions

Light - An Eternal Presence: The Donna Spaan Contemporary Collection of Art, Sept. 8 - Oct. 10, 2015
Donna Spaan Contemporary Art Collection: June 1 - August 15, 2015 Center Art Gallery
Permanent Collection -July 21, 2017 - July 10, 2018 Center Art Gallery
Loan - Spaan Collection @ Dordt College
Loan - Spaan Collection @ 2nd CRC - Grand Haven, Michigan
Spaan and PC - February 15 - April 8, 2022
Loan - Spaan Collection @ LaGrave CRC
Spaan Collection - August 27 - November 29, 2024

General Notes

Note Type

Wall Label

Note

Born in 1956 in the Hague, the Netherlands. Kerstens is a self-taught photographer who started photographing his daughter Paula in 1995. His initial photography series documented the daily life of Paula, capturing intimate moments of her childhood. As Paula grew, Kerstens recognized that his daughter resembled the subjects of 17th century Dutch portraiture and the Italian renaissance. He began to incorporate the characteristics of these periods into his work and their focus on light and subject gaze. Kerstens playfully utilizes props in his portraits. Using common household items such as napkins, plastic bags, tea towels, aluminum foil, or the vacuum cleaner bag used in this photograph, he creates a polished and refined finished image that leaves the viewer asking more.