Hendrik Kerstens Art

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.

Hendrik KerstensGolden Egg Box, 2025

$16,000

Golden Egg Box

By Hendrik Kerstens

Located in Miami Beach, FL

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 r...

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Hendrik KerstensCoif, 2024

$14,000

Coif

By Hendrik Kerstens

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Coif - available is three formats - 20x24” - 30x40” and 50x60”

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Erik PawassarReef - large format abstract photograph of sun reflections on coral reefs, 2025

$4,400

H 48 in W 72 in

Reef - large format abstract photograph of sun reflections on coral reefs

By Erik Pawassar

Located in San Francisco, CA

large format photograph of sun reflections on a coral reef water surface, mesmerizing light reflections of glistening sunlight on turquoise aquamarine water surface, an homage to the...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment

Eve ArnoldEve Arnold - Queen Elizabeth II in Manchester, Photography 1960, Printed After

$4,000

H 24 in W 20 in

Eve Arnold - Queen Elizabeth II in Manchester, Photography 1960, Printed After

By Eve Arnold

Located in Stamford, CT

American Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X in Chicago, Illinois in 1961. All available sizes and editions: 24" x 20", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs 34" x 24", Ed...

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Zack WhitfordSteven Tyler / Johnny Depp on stage by Zack Whitford

$1,850

H 16 in W 20 in

Steven Tyler / Johnny Depp on stage by Zack Whitford

By Zack Whitford

Located in Chicago, IL

Limited edition graphic on Archival Canson Platine Fibre Rag paper. Signed and numbered by the artist. Edition size: 25 16" x 20" Print Please inquire for framing options BIO...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Jen DavisRandall, 2008

$3,200

H 30 in W 24 in

Randall

By Jen Davis

Located in New York, NY

Archival pigment print Signed and numbered, verso 30 x 24 inches (Edition of 6) 40 x 30 inches (Edition of 6) This photograph is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Plea...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Marc YankusMany Windows in Chelsea, 2013

$1,400

H 22 in W 17 in

Many Windows in Chelsea

By Marc Yankus

Located in New York, NY

Archival pigment print Signed and numbered, verso 22 x 17 inches, sheet (Edition of 15) 38 x 27 inches, sheet (Edition of 9) From the series, "The Space Between" This photograph is...

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Joseph ScheerGrammia Virgo Female - Coral Red Black Peach Moth Insect Patterned Wings, 2007, 2007

$2,000

H 32 in W 44 in

Grammia Virgo Female - Coral Red Black Peach Moth Insect Patterned Wings, 2007

By Joseph Scheer

Located in Kent, CT

In this contemporary, hyper-detailed archival pigment print on watercolor paper, a coral red moth with black markings on its wings and abdomen and pale peach on its upper wings is dr...

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Yevgeniy RepiashenkoRA (No 25) Ballet Photography 47" x 47" in Ed. of 18 by Yevgeniy Repiashenko, 2016

$3,100

H 47 in W 47 in D 0.1 in

RA (No 25) Ballet Photography 47" x 47" in Ed. of 18 by Yevgeniy Repiashenko

By Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Located in Culver City, CA

RA (No 25) Ballet Photography 47" x 47" in Ed. of 18 by Yevgeniy Repiashenko RA (No 25) by Yevgeniy Repiashenko Year photo was taken: 2016 Limited Edition of 18 Picture size: Heigh...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Joseph ScheerArctia Caja Manchuria - Insect Photograph Black Orange Ivory Moth Spots, 2018, 2018

$2,000

H 32 in W 44 in

Arctia Caja Manchuria - Insect Photograph Black Orange Ivory Moth Spots, 2018

By Joseph Scheer

Located in Kent, CT

In this hyper-detailed archival pigment print on watercolor paper, an orange moth with black spots and a black and white pattern on the top half of its wings is dramatic against a so...

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Ben Cope"Grand Canyon 0123" Landscape Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope, 2023

$1,350

H 36 in W 44 in D 0.1 in

"Grand Canyon 0123" Landscape Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope

By Ben Cope

Located in Culver City, CA

"Grand Canyon 0123" Landscape Photography 36" x 44" Edition of 12 by Ben Cope Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the arti...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Rowan Daly"Drift 24" Landscape Photography 20" x 30" Edition of 10 by Rowan Daly, 2013

$1,900

H 20 in W 30 in D 0.1 in

"Drift 24" Landscape Photography 20" x 30" Edition of 10 by Rowan Daly

By Rowan Daly

Located in Culver City, CA

"Drift 24" Landscape Photography 20" x 30" Edition of 10 by Rowan Daly Digital print on Ultra Smooth Fine Art Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the a...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Pigment, Digital

Joseph ScheerArachnis Picta - Magenta Pink Black White Pattern Moth Insect Photograph, 2007, 2007

$2,000

H 32 in W 44 in

Arachnis Picta - Magenta Pink Black White Pattern Moth Insect Photograph, 2007

By Joseph Scheer

Located in Kent, CT

In this hyper-detailed archival pigment print on watercolor paper, a magenta pink moth with black circular markings down its abdomen and black, white and gray on its upper wings is d...

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Joseph ScheerXanthopastis Regnatrix - Pink Orange Brown White Moth Insect Photograph, 2019, 2019

$2,000

H 32 in W 44 in

Xanthopastis Regnatrix - Pink Orange Brown White Moth Insect Photograph, 2019

By Joseph Scheer

Located in Kent, CT

In this hyper-detailed archival pigment print on watercolor paper, a moth with pink, orange and black markings on its upper wings is dramatic against a solid white background. Pric...

Category

2010s Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Previously Available Items

Hendrik KerstensPaper Lace, 2022

Sold

H 40 in W 30 in

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 Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Hendrik KerstensCover, 2014

Sold

H 40 in W 30 in

Cover

By Hendrik Kerstens

Located in Miami Beach, FL

pigment print

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Pigment

Hendrik KerstensNapkin, 2009

Sold

H 18 in W 12 in

Napkin

By Hendrik Kerstens

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Limited edition print

Category

20th Century Contemporary Hendrik Kerstens Art

Materials

Digital Pigment

Hendrik Kerstens art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Hendrik Kerstens art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art 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 art, 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 art 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.