Franciscus & Franciscus

FFranciscus & Franciscus are the joined forces of artist F. Franciscus (1959, Utrecht, the Netherlands) and his spouse, graphic designer and stylist Rienus Gündel Franciscus (1967, Dordrecht, the Netherlands). Both within the course of their careers have worked with the many facets of staged photography. Combining these learnings and experiences took them in due course to start the ‘After Memling’ series of portraits.

Hans Memling (Seligenstadt, circa 1430-40 – Brugge,1494) was the first painter who used backgrounds behind his painted models. The portrayed were almost always depicted holding a small object in their hand. The hands were painted as if they were leaning on the paintings frame. This surreal atmosphere intrigued F. Franciscus. In 2010 he started painting a series of portraits ‘After Memling’. By carefully putting together the raw photographic material shot as study material for these painted images, the first two photo portraits arose. On these are depicted the gentlemen themselves.

During a work visit to New York in February/March 2012, Mr. and Mr. Franciscus developed the idea to make these photographic portraits as autonomous artworks. The first was shot in Manhattan, New York City. They portrayed a young red-headed man, their New York trainee, and as background a view over the West Village taken from the Mondriaan loft where the gents stayed for that occasion, made possible by the Dutch Mondriaan Fund.