‘Dedicated’

Portraits by Marie Cécile Thijs

            

22 October – 17 December 2011

‘Dedicated’ shows an overview of the work of Dutch photographer Marie Cécile Thijs. However different her subjects are, in all her portraits the same intense dedication exists. Whether it be the children and the cat with a 17th-century white ruff collar from the Rijksmuseum, the portraits of judges and lawyers, or the chefs and the famous horse Salinero with which Anky van Grunsven had so many Olympic successes.

‘White Collar’ is the newest autonomous photo project of Marie Cécile Thijs, which she started in 2010. The models are wearing a 17th-century antique ruff collar that belongs to the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. Because this collar is so delicate and rare, it was photographed separately in the Rijksmuseum and placed afterwards on her models by way of digital imaging. The collar is the only surviving pleated ruff in the world.

Horses have inspired many artists through the ages. The first images of horses were made about 18,000 years ago in the form of rock paintings and ever since they have been part of art history. These elegant and powerful animals have fascinated Marie Cécile Thijs since her childhood and she has been a keen equestrian for many years. That’s why she has given the horse its proper place in her portrait photography.

Marie Cécile Thijs (1964) initially had a career as a lawyer, but more than fifteen years ago she rediscovered her earlier love for the camera, and decided to become a photographer. She specializes in portraiture, as well as staged photography. In her photographs she strives for intensity and stillness. She mingles contemporary style with classical aesthetics. Her work is regularly published and acquired by art collectors and corporations.