‘The compostion is what it’s all about. It transcends the image. Harmony in the work is important, you feel it when it’s right, you see that it isn’t possible in any other way’
Henk Helmantel (Westeremden, 1945) studied at the Minerva Academie in Groningen in the sixties. Helmantel is a true master of the fine arts and is generally seen as one of the most important figures within the movement of contemporary realism. He gained fame with the quiet serenity in his still lifes. The artist finds inspiration in the works of his Dutch Golden Age predecessors. The dramatic highlights used Rembrandt are to be found in Helmantels paintings. And the soft and balanced nuances of colors are homage to Johannes Vermeer.
Real beauty can be found all around us, according to Helmantel, even in the objects of everyday life: a round, shiny plum or the deep red of an apple. Beauty can be seen in an old wooden table that has seen years of use, or in the faded green of an old glass bottle. Helmantel’s work is a quiet contemplation on the serenity of creation. With his artworks, Helmantel invites the viewer to re-examine one’s surroundings in search of this everyday beauty.
His paintings are all about finding and combining the right objects. Even the plainest will do: a round piece of bread, a bottle in a vivid green shade or an ancient metal pitcher. These paraphernalia are arranged with the utmost care on a table by the window. The most important factor is the composition of the objects. A balanced composition consists of (at least) one horizontal, one vertical and, one diagonal line. These lines together must form a balanced whole. The artist places and replaces objects until he is satisfied with the arrangement. Only then is he ready to start working on the actual paintings.
He starts with a drawing directly on the panel, after which he picks up his brush. With each thin layer of oil paint, the image gains clarity, detail and depth of color. The objects gain solidity and substance. In the final phase he fine-tunes the light and the last details are filled in.