This late summer into autumn, Gallery Persoon and the Oogenlust Concept Store open their doors to an artist whose work thrives on imagination and storytelling. From 20 August to 18 October 2025, Dutch photographic artist Hans Withoos presents his solo exhibition The Joy of Life at Domain Oogenlust in Eersel, Netherlands, deep in the Brabant countryside.
The exhibition features 75 photographic artworks, including new pieces being shown for the very first time. Visitors can expect Withoos’s signature style: rich compositions that straddle the line between reality and fantasy. The Joy of Life offers a window into the mind of an artist who has built a career on seeing beauty where others might overlook it, and on blending history with contemporary vision.
Storytelling Through Staged Realities
Hans Withoos describes himself as a storyteller first, and his images reflect that sensibility. Every photograph is the result of careful staging, often resembling a painted tableau where nothing is accidental. His multi-layered works lean into surrealism, yet they remain grounded in emotion and inclusivity. Viewers are invited to enter dreamlike spaces where abundance, artificiality, and symbolism live side by side.
One of the central highlights of The Joy of Life is the series 'Withoos meets Withoos'. In these works, Hans Withoos enters into dialogue with his 17th-century ancestor, the painter Mathias Withoos. By merging historical still lifes and townscapes with contemporary models, birds, butterflies, and flowers, Hans revives the spirit of the Golden Age and fuses it with a distinctly modern aesthetic. These images demonstrate how photography can extend the life of historical painting, creating artworks that are at once timeless and forward-looking.
A Special Anniversary Experience
The exhibition also coincides with the 45th anniversary of Oogenlust, an occasion marked by the creation of a special experience space from 11 September to 5 October. This space deepens the encounter with Withoos’s art. Visitors will see the award-winning short film 'The World of Withoos', explore 45 additional photographic works, and view original set pieces, fabrics, and costumes designed by the artist himself.
The festive opening promises to be memorable, with a performance by the modern ballet company Introdans, which echoes the theatrical qualities of Withoos’s photography. The event also celebrates the launch of Withoos’s new book, adding yet another dimension to the artist’s ongoing exploration of narrative and image.
Born in Son en Breugel in 1962, Hans Withoos studied textile design and photography at the Academy of Visual Arts in Tilburg. Since 1990, he has lived and worked in Rotterdam. His career spans more than 35 years, with exhibitions across the Netherlands and abroad. His work has been presented in museums such as the Westfries Museum in Hoorn, Museum Flehite in Amersfoort, and the Stadhuismuseum Zierikzee in 2025. On the international stage, his art has been shown at renowned fairs including KunstRAI, PAN Amsterdam, Scope Miami, and VOLTA Basel.
The Joy of Life is not simply a showcase of photographs; it is an invitation to immerse oneself in a universe of beauty, imagination, and layered meaning. By weaving together history and contemporary vision, Hans Withoos creates works that speak to both personal and collective experience. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness how art can transcend time, celebrate inclusivity, and transform the everyday into something extraordinary.
All pictures courtesy of Hans Withoos.
