Making Milky Waves by Hans Withoos

Making Milky Waves

In the artworks Making Milky Waves , Hans Withoos interweaves contemporary photography with references to the 17th-century painting tradition of his distant ancestor. The work is part of his “milkmaid / milkmaid” themes: the associations with milk, tradition, past and present.

Making Milky Waves II

In this artwork Making Milky Waves II, the model sits in a hushed, almost meditative pose in front of a carefully constructed landscape. Because the model is of mixed ancestry, Hans has used details from several paintings by Matthias Withoos. To the left is a seascape of Hoorn, where Matthias Withoos worked his last years. Then to the right this shifts to a southern, more Italian-looking landscape. This is a reference to the years Matthias spent in Italy and the influence that trip had on his work. With in front of the mountains is a cityscape of Amersfoort where Matthias was born.

In the foreground, the model is the anchor point of the image. The milk flowing past her in wavy lines brings movement to the serene scene. In addition, it refers to abundance, care and the symbolism of Dutch painting. The clothing is essential here: the skirt and top piece carry an image based on the painting Work on the south sea dike, also aand painting by Matthias Withoos.

The cloud sky is extended upward. Moreover, the clothes are made of sturdy linen, a reference to the sturdy fabrics of working people. To give the clothing a contemporary touch, he had a crop top made and a piece of waist is visible.

In addition, these costumes were specially designed and actually manufactured by Hans Withoos for this shoot in the sea. As a result, model, water, history and photography merge into one whole. In this work, Hans Withoos interweaves the North Holland heritage of his ancestor with his own contemporary visual language. The result is a layered and poetic whole.

Painting Work on the south sea dike, Matthias Withoos

 

Zeeland lands

His images are striking and alienating. We meet his mussel princess or an oyster queen The photographic series of artworks Zeeland Grounds are shot or inspired by Zeeland’s landscape and life. Behind the beauty of the portraits and images is a deeper layer: it confronts the question of how we treat the earth.

The Knitter

The Knitter is another work by Hans Withoos. A powerful and layered work in which craft, art history and contemporary fashion reinforce each other. The knitter, making her own dress, meets the viewer’s gaze with determination: a symbol of autonomy, boldness and focus. Every detail counts, from the specially knitted fabric to the sophisticated references to 17th-century still life. Read more.

View the entire collection of Hans Withoos.

Terug naar overzicht