Paul Blanca, pseudonym of Paul Vlaswinkel, was a Dutch photographer who rose to fame in the 1980s with confrontational and often violent imagery. Influenced by Hans van Manen, Benno Premsela and Robert Mapplethorpe, with whom he worked in New York, Blanca balanced aesthetics with provocation, capturing decisive moments that challenge viewers to reflect on the boundaries of beauty.
The work Mi Matties Gangster (2008) is part of the portrait series of the same name, created during Blanca’s wanderings through Amsterdam. He approached street gangs and loitering youths, convincing them to pose for him. This portrait shows a young man with a bare torso, a New York Yankees cap, sunglasses, and multiple tattoos. He smokes a cigarette and makes a peace sign while staring challengingly into the camera. The black background isolates the figure, emphasising the strength of his pose. The chromogenic print (C-print) accentuates the texture and tonal range, intensifying the raw impact of the subject.
Details:
• Artist: Paul Blanca (Amsterdam 1958 – Amsterdam 2021)
• Title: Mi Matties Gangster – 2008
• Technique: Original C-print (chromogenic print)
• Condition: Excellent
• Signature: Handmade in silver felt pen, also named and dated
• Sale with frame: No
• Dimensions without frame: 34 × 25.7 cm
• Dimensions with frame: 42 × 29.6 cm
• Provenance: Private collection
• Remarks: Acquired from Dutch art collector/dealer, obtained from the owner of the printing house where they were made and gifted by the artist
