It all started in 2013, at Antwerp train station. Danielle van Zadelhoff picked up a camera for the first time and captured a mother and child walking across the platform. It was an everyday scene, but the way their posture and gaze told a story touched her deeply. At that moment, she realized that images can capture emotions where words fall short.
What makes Van Zadelhoff's work so special is the purity and vulnerability that each creation exudes. By first engaging in a confidential conversation with her models, Danielle succeeds in developing a visual language that is personal and recognizable. Her camera reveals the story behind the person; as a viewer, you immediately feel a connection through the sincerity of the emotions. Her compositions force you to pause for a moment and reflect on feelings that would otherwise pass you by.
The contrast between light and dark is decisive in Van Zadelhoff's work. She seeks out the shadows to focus on what we don't normally see immediately: the side of a person that often remains hidden, the subconscious. For her, these dark areas are not emptiness, but the place where real emotion resides.
The tension in her work stems from her use of chiaroscuro. This technique, in which masters such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt used a specific light source to create depth and drama, gives her photographs an old-fashioned feel. But although the technique is reminiscent of the past, her work is contemporary; the portraits tell stories of the present day.
Van Zadelhoff's work has received much international recognition from leading art institutions. What she creates touches many people. Each portrait forms its own melody of the fleeting; a moment of human emotion that lingers long after viewing.
What makes Van Zadelhoff's work so special is the purity and vulnerability that each creation exudes. By first engaging in a confidential conversation with her models, Danielle succeeds in developing a visual language that is personal and recognizable. Her camera reveals the story behind the person; as a viewer, you immediately feel a connection through the sincerity of the emotions. Her compositions force you to pause for a moment and reflect on feelings that would otherwise pass you by.
The contrast between light and dark is decisive in Van Zadelhoff's work. She seeks out the shadows to focus on what we don't normally see immediately: the side of a person that often remains hidden, the subconscious. For her, these dark areas are not emptiness, but the place where real emotion resides.
The tension in her work stems from her use of chiaroscuro. This technique, in which masters such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt used a specific light source to create depth and drama, gives her photographs an old-fashioned feel. But although the technique is reminiscent of the past, her work is contemporary; the portraits tell stories of the present day.
Van Zadelhoff's work has received much international recognition from leading art institutions. What she creates touches many people. Each portrait forms its own melody of the fleeting; a moment of human emotion that lingers long after viewing.
Artworks
Articles
Media
Highlights
Recommendations
Collections
Shows
Market position
CV
Artworks by Danielle van Zadelhoff
Free Magazine Subscription
Articles, interviews, shows & events. Delivered to your mailbox weekly.