If one were to inquire among the multitude of photo collectors in the Netherlands about the most significant photographer of the 60’s and 70’s in the country, it is almost certain that over 50% would mention Fieret.
In the last two decades of his life, Fieret secluded himself, distancing himself from ordinary society and spending his days feeding pigeons and creating numerous drawings. He even isolated himself for nearly a month to embellish an entire room in the Gemeentemuseum with his artwork.
However, during the 1960’s and 1970’s, Fieret’s primary focus was photography. He captured images from a unique and personal perspective, often “signing” them with studio stamps across the photos. Fieret had a discerning eye, always choosing to photograph from unconventional angles and perspectives, setting his work apart from other photos of the era. He particularly favored young women as subjects, along with street scenes, effectively documenting the essence of 1960’s Netherlands. For the past 15 years, Fieret’s work has been displayed in exhibitions beyond the Netherlands, including the United States where his first US exhibition was held at the Deborah Bell Gallery. The catalogue for this exhibition is available at www.ftn-books.com, among other resources.
In her reflection on her first encounter with Fieret’s work, Gaby Wood writes:
“Like most unfamiliar with Dutch culture, I had never seen Fieret’s work before. The examples displayed by the Rijksmuseum, however, are not entirely representative of his entire portfolio. Fieret is most renowned for his female nudes, yet the images I saw were more ethereal in nature. Nevertheless, I was immediately drawn to them: a large, obsidian print featuring a pale, milky-colored little girl, blurred almost to the point of abstraction; an aged interior, its contours so fuzzy it bordered on double-exposure; the self-portrait of a bearded man, captured in a manner appearing unintentional yet still conveying a sense of intense concentration.
The prints themselves were raw: uncropped, handled roughly and discolored along the edges; boldly signed with thick black marker. Some even contained small tears.
www.ftn-books.com has now a good selection of Fieret books and items available.
