Theguardian_ Dutch photographer Bastiaan Woudt’s new solo exhibition offers up monochrome minimalism at its most striking.

Rhythm, a solo exhibition of Dutch photographer Bastiaan Woudt’s work, features new and never-before-seen pieces, capturing monochrome minimalism at its finest. Woudt began his journey into photography both by diving into photography books and experimenting with modern techniques. He learnt from the masters such as Irving Penn and Richard Avedon while exploring his own artistic instinct. Rhythm is at Galerie Bildhalle, Zurich, until 26 August 2023.

Bastiaan Woudt: ‘My inspiration comes from many forms of art, but in particular, the old masters of photography like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Man Ray, Bill Brandt, all amazing minds’.

With their anthracite tones and elegant compositions, Bastiaan Woudt’s photographs feel like entering a modern painting, a room full of light and shadow.

There is a hint of surrealism as the formal reduction emphasises every detail and invites us to see only what is essential. His works are minimalist and moving, while at the same time playing with the beauty of imperfection.

Instead of shooting lists and lighting plans, Woudt lets his eye discover the picture. In a predetermined space, with props made especially for the shoot and in close collaboration with the models who have accompanied him for years, he proves his unique view of the human silhouette, face and body.

Woudt’s works emerge from his admiring and independent perspective on 20th-century fashion and portrait photography.

While his respect for the great masters of photographic history is evident, he has developed a distinctive, contemporary style: monochrome, with reduced depth of field to the point of complete two-dimensionality.

Over the years, Woudt’s works increasingly show influences from sculpture and architecture. He lets himself be guided by his intuition in the creation of his pictures.

Woudt uses his gut feeling to guide the process. You’ll rarely find mood boards in his studio or detailed shooting lists. He stumbles on his subjects by letting people and places catch his eye.

He references the photography of the 50s, 60s and 70s while expanding it with today’s technical possibilities.

‘The old masters nailed what it takes to make an interesting image: dynamics, movement, imperfection, feeling’.

‘Besides photography, there are many more ways I get inspired. [In] painting, the way the Dutch masters saw the light is extraordinary. I believe that in art photography, you have to create a little dream world: a unique insight into the photographer’s mind. Black and white helps to differentiate from reality. I find that colour is too distracting.’