Van Meene, Hellen | De Zeven Werken van Barmhartigheid / bezoek de zieken, 2019 — available on Composition Gallery

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// De Zeven Werken van Barmhartigheid / Bezoek de Zieken by Hellen van Meene, created in 2019, is a poignant photographic work that reinterprets the theme of the Seven Works of Mercy, specifically the act of visiting the sick. Set against the historic backdrop of a stone building, a young figure with angelic wings stands solemnly above, casting a gentle yet watchful gaze over a reclining figure below, who appears vulnerable and weary. The lighting creates soft shadows that enhance the contemplative atmosphere, invoking a sense of both spirituality and human compassion. Van Meene’s use of carefully composed poses and lighting lends the scene a painterly quality, imbuing it with symbolism that reflects on empathy, care, and the timeless acts of mercy. This C-print photograph, measuring 80 cm by 160 cm, invites viewers to reflect on themes of vulnerability, care, and the enduring relevance of compassionate acts.

Hellen van Meene (Netherlands, 1972) is known for her intimate, dreamlike portraits that explore themes of adolescence and vulnerability. Her carefully staged photography captures subjects—often young girls—in natural light, creating an ethereal quality. Van Meene's work is internationally celebrated for its emotional depth and psychological insight, making her a distinctive voice in contemporary portrait photography.

Hellen Van Meene

De Zeven Werken van Barmhartigheid / bezoek de zieken, 2019

Name: De Zeven Werken van Barmhartigheid / bezoek de zieken, 2019
SKU: 6544

Form

Photography

PhotographyPhotography is the process of creating an image on light sensitive materials. The image is produced by using a camera, which has a lens that focuses on light either reflected or emitted from an object. These visible wavelengths are used to reproduce the image seen.

Medium

C-Print

C-PrintA C-type print, also known as a chromogenic print, is a photographic print made from a color negative or slide. The print is created on chromogenic paper, which contains three emulsion layers, each sensitized to a different primary color. After exposure, the paper is processed in a series of chemical baths, where each layer reacts to the chemicals to produce the final image. C-type prints are known for their rich color depth and are widely used in fine art and commercial photography.

Edition

Edition of 10

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Hellen Van Meene

De Zeven Werken van Barmhartigheid / bezoek de zieken, 2019

Photography

C-Print

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Tout va disp(...), 2008

Photography

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To make a great portrait, you simply must concentrate on what’s in front of you.
- Hellen Van Meene

Hellen Van Meene is a Dutch photographer known for her portraits of girls she meets on the street. She looks for subjects who "are said to have imperfect faces and flawed bodies." With her portraits Hellen Van Meene brings out the ingrained grace of her subjects with their changing faces and bodies. Many of the girls she has photographed are from Hellen Van Meene’s home town with the details of older homes in the background. Hellen Van Meene over the years has turned her interests to animals and also fashion photography. She has been featured in TIME and on CNN and is also a much sought after workshop leader. She was commissioned by Pump House to do a series on teenage mothers and by the New York Times to travel to Japan and photograph Japanese girls. Hellen Van Meene’s photographs strive to compose adolescent situations and emotions. The portraits contain a ""normality"" we do not usually share with others. Her work is completed with mutual trust and a shared curiosity of the artist and her subject. She poses her subjects in their appearance to sometimes include their hair caught up in a tree or dampened slightly or perhaps to have on a transparent blouse. Hellen's models are not great beauties in the classic sense, but appear to grow into one as their sexuality is awakened with her poses. In 2010 Hellen Van Meene began to unexpectedly photograph dogs. It began with her wanting to take pictures of her daughter with a large white rabbit and from there to using other animals in other photos. She tried using roosters and goats first but found them hard to manage while photographing and finally decided on dogs as for most people they consider their dog to be part of the family. She did not want to give up on the portraits she loved creating, so decided to combine the two together into girls with dogs. Hellen Van Meene’s latest photographs employ familiar motifs from art history and portray specific moods and atmosphere. It is hard to tell if these recent creations are from 50 years ago or yesterday. (Artist website)

Artwork by Miles Aldridge

What is contemporary art?

Contemporary art refers to avant-garde or innovative art created in the recent past or present day. The exact starting point of contemporary art varies depending on the institution, often tied to the founding year of museums or galleries that showcase the style. Contemporary art is characterized by its focus on current ideas, diverse media, and the exploration of new concepts and techniques.

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Hellen Van Meene

De Zeven Werken van Barmhartigheid / bezoek de zieken, 2019

80 x 160 cm

Language & Currency

Hellen Van Meene