Jan Van Empel Paintings

Ruud van Empel is a Dutch photographer and visual artist known for his pioneering work in digital photography. Born in Breda, the Netherlands, in 1958, van Empel has been active in the art world since the late 20th century. He studied at the St. Joost Academy of Art and Design in Breda and began his career in graphic design and theater set design before focusing on photography.

Van Empel's work is characterized by its unique combination of photography and digital manipulation, creating surreal and hyper-realistic scenes. His approach involves meticulously assembling hundreds of digital fragments from his own photographs to compose a single image. This complex process can take several weeks for each work. He often features children, flora, and fauna, creating a sense of innocence and purity set against unnaturally perfect or fantastical backdrops.

One of his most famous series is 'World,' which depicts young children in paradisiacal garden settings. These images explore themes of innocence, originality, and paradise, often provoking discussions on race, representation, and the manipulation of nature. Van Empel's art challenges the boundary between the real and the unreal, prompting viewers to question the authenticity of photography and the truth it is widely assumed to represent.

Despite the artificiality inherent in his technique, van Empel's images are often mistaken for straightforward photographs, which is a testament to his skill in blending reality with imagination. His work has been exhibited internationally and is included in numerous public and private collections.

As of my last update, Ruud van Empel is alive and continues to work and exhibit his art globally. His contribution to contemporary photography and digital art is significant, as he has influenced the way in which artists think about the manipulation of photographic imagery in the digital age.