Dirk Schmitt

Dirk Schmitt, born in 1967, is dedicated to representational painting and employs traditional painting techniques and genres. His still lifes evoke the Dutch masters of the Golden Age, while his portraits—often set against landscapes—draw inspiration from Romanticism. Frequently, his figures turn their backs to the viewer or appear otherwise averted; this approach allows the Cologne artist to outsource the narrative to the observer, inviting them to interpret the story behind the image themselves. The absence of eye contact gives Schmitt's figures an air of mystery and indefinability, while simultaneously allowing for an unobstructed view of them. Although the subjects and style of this former master student of Dieter Kraemer are retro and classic in the best sense, the codes are contemporary and highly relevant. Both the poses and clothing of the depicted individuals clearly place them in the present, even though the atmosphere is marked by transience. This creates a contradiction, yet also a peculiar fascination and pull that viewers cannot resist. The backgrounds remain undefined, sometimes intentionally unfinished, to give the subjects literally unrestricted space. This reduction to themselves transforms them into perfect representations.

Dirk Schmitt lives and works in Cologne. His works have been exhibited at venues including the Museum Schloss Moers and the Haus der Geschichte in Bonn.

Dirk Schmitt is officially represented by the 30works Gallery.

© for text and image is held by the 30works Gallery.