Steef Zoetmulder grew up during the Interbellum. Inspired by photographers like Piet Zwart, Gerrit Kiljan, and Jan Kamman he followed the basic principles of New Photography, a movement focused on depicting the subject matter in an idiosyncratic and graphic way.
Inspired by "Subjektive Fotografie" (Subjective Photography), which prioritized form over documenting the subject matter, Zoetmulder later developed a visual language of his own. In his increasingly abstract work, he experimented with different image cutouts, lighting techniques, perspectives, and compositions, which he referred to as "photographic motifs". For the work, he composed with light and glass – his so-called "light graphs" – Zoetmulder photographed through distorted glass or water: experiments reminiscent of the distortions used in surrealistic photography.
Van Nelle Tea, Steef Zoetmulder, 1953. Ontwikkelgelatinezilverdruk, ca. 50 x40 cm Universitaire Bibliotheken Leiden.
The exhibition Steef Zoetmulder is realized in collaboration with UBL, a knowledge node for photography and custodian of the oldest historical photography collection in the Netherlands. Recently, UBL acquired the central collection of Steef Zoetmulder's work, thanks to the support of Vereniging Rembrandt. the Mondriaan Fund, and Friends of UBL.
Inspired by "Subjektive Fotografie" (Subjective Photography), which prioritized form over documenting the subject matter, Zoetmulder later developed a visual language of his own. In his increasingly abstract work, he experimented with different image cutouts, lighting techniques, perspectives, and compositions, which he referred to as "photographic motifs". For the work, he composed with light and glass – his so-called "light graphs" – Zoetmulder photographed through distorted glass or water: experiments reminiscent of the distortions used in surrealistic photography.
Van Nelle Tea, Steef Zoetmulder, 1953. Ontwikkelgelatinezilverdruk, ca. 50 x40 cm Universitaire Bibliotheken Leiden.
The exhibition Steef Zoetmulder is realized in collaboration with UBL, a knowledge node for photography and custodian of the oldest historical photography collection in the Netherlands. Recently, UBL acquired the central collection of Steef Zoetmulder's work, thanks to the support of Vereniging Rembrandt. the Mondriaan Fund, and Friends of UBL.
