Wanrooij Gallery presents new art project with historical masters

Wanrooy Gallery in Amsterdam presents a solo exhibition by the Dutch photographer Julius Rooymans from March 10 to May 14, 2022. The gallery shows with The Shadow of the Master a new series of monumental photo works and portraits. Paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Jan Steen come to life. Text: Patrick Stoffer
Image: Wanrooij GalleryArtist slash photographer Julius Rooymans is a storyteller with a fascination for history and large-scale works. He completed the project in 2019 Nachtwacht360 – The Other Side of Art, a photographic reconstruction with doppelgängers and a fictional reverse side of Rembrandt's iconic painting exhibited in the Rijksmuseum.

In the new art project De Shadow of the Master the works of world-famous Dutch masters come together and the dark sides of being an artist are highlighted, such as love, self-mockery, poverty, sadness and setbacks. Just like with the Nightwatch360 180 lookalikes were sought for this project that resemble their predecessors, 350 years older.

Thanks to the cooperation of renowned institutions such as the Allard Pierson, Museum Het Rembrandthuis, Museum Vrolik and well-known collectors and antique dealers, numerous original objects, tableware, weapons and decors can be seen in the photographic works. With the expertise and dedication of professionals such as make-up artist Arjen van der Grijn, costume designer Catherine Cuykens and art historian Marieke de Winkel, the costumes, jewelry and hairpieces have been made historically accurate down to the smallest details.

Julius Rooymans grew up in a family of artists and trained in photography at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy. He has been taking photographs for almost 25 years and has made covers for Newsweek and The New York Times. The visual artist's autonomous work has been presented at art fairs such as Art Miami and the KunstRAI and included in the collections of private collectors and companies. Rooymans lives and works in Amsterdam.

In addition to the exhibition at Wanrooij Gallery, on KNSM-laan in Amsterdam, 'De Shadow of the Master' can be seen permanently in the AFAS Theater in Leusden. More information about the collection and tickets can be found here.