CARLA VAN DE PUTTELAAR

In the traditions of the Dutch masters of her native land, Carla van de Puttelaar, figurative photographer from Amsterdam, brings a fresh view to the subject of the female nude. Using the same painterly light of Rembrandt, Vermeer and others, Van de Puttelaar's luminous colored nude photographs seem to silently breathe in the quiet air of a northern winter snowfall, and reflect the solitude and loneliness of a thoughtful artistic soul. She has admired and collected Alfred Cheney Johnston's work for the last 10 years.

"I became acquainted with his work though eBay and I was amazed to find out that his fame was faded over the years which is totally undeserved as his works have a great timeless quality." she says. "All the women in his photos have style and elegance, I love his delicate way of photographing women. I like his simply styled elegant nudes and nude groups best (see for example pages 46, 55, 57, 144, 216 and 217 in the book Jazz Age Beauties) They show a great sense of beauty and dignity."
Carla Van de Puttelaar's work has been exhibited throughout Europe and the US including Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, Hungary, and AIPAD in NYC. Her books "Carla van de Puttelaar: The Beholder's Eye," and "Galateas" were published in 2008 (available through her website link or Idea Books). She was honored with an image on a Dutch stamp and portfolios of her images were included in PHOTO magazine in Romania and the Spanish photo magazine EXIT. In October 2008, she was nominated for the Black & White Spider Award in the Fine Art Category.

In comparing elements of style in the work in her recent book "The Beholder's Eye" to Johnston's, Van de Puttelaar observes: "We both want to show the true beauty of women. They possess the same delicacy, but in my pictures the skin itself plays a major role. Freckles, moles, gooseflesh are little marks and sensations of the skin give a very intimate view on women. And nearly all my work is in color which enables me to play with it and to show the marble skin in which life shines through."
To learn more about Carla Van de Puttelaar's photography, check out her website at:

www.carlavandeputtelaar.com