Vermeer's Modern Legacy

Asking what Vermeer's relevance is in the Post-Postmodern world is a tricky question to answer. Certainly, Vermeer is known for his ability to create a stunning light, a humble moment of quietude, and some very interesting ladies, but what more inspires artists in this day and age? Hendrik Kerstens, a modern day photographer in Amsterdam, who has won awards and been published several times, takes a slightly different message from Vermeer.

Kerstens' photographs are inspired by 17th century Dutch artists, most notably Vermeer.

Kerstens takes his photographs of his daughter, who poses much like Vermeer's women do. The stare that might be unpleasant, yet transfixing, is captured perfectly. In A Lady Writing, the lady stares with the same intensity as does the subject in Kerstens works. The legacy of the mysteriousness and the intensity of that facial expression is easily reinterpreted as a modern one. He also imbues the serious portraits with some pretty wonderful humor.


http://www.hendrikkerstens.com/index.html