Rademakers Gallery | Carla van de Puttelaar

Carla van de Puttelaar (*1967, Netherlands) is a renowned photographer celebrated for her exploration of the female body and natural elements, particularly skin and flowers, through a highly tactile, light-sensitive lens. Her work captures the sensitivity and sensuality of skin, using natural light to evoke texture and form. Van de Puttelaar’s photographs reveal an intimate interaction between the model and the light, a hallmark of her style that recalls the works of old master painters.

Female Figures and Nature
For years, van de Puttelaar's primary subject was the female body, but her recent work also extends to flowers on the verge of fading, evoking a similar fragility and tactile beauty. She captures fleeting moments, allowing her photography to transcend the physical, immersing viewers in the emotional texture of the subject.

Portraiture
Though van de Puttelaar is widely known for her nude studies, her portrait work is equally striking. Her portraits—both commissioned and personal—are driven by a desire to capture a subject’s emotional essence, often focusing on the eye to convey intensity. These portraits, like all of her work, are shot using natural northern light, a technique that reveals her deep admiration for old master painters.

International Recognition
Van de Puttelaar's work has gained international acclaim, with five of her portraits being acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London. Her photography for The New Yorker in 2015 further solidified her reputation as a world-class photographer who brings sensitivity, intimacy, and old-world elegance to modern photography.

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