Jenny Boot

Born in the Netherlands in 1969, photographer Jenny Boot is known for her emotive, painterly portraits. Boot’s contemporary female portraiture demonstrates the artist’s technical expertise through the use of dramatic light and shadow, as well as theatrical compositions. The Dutch portrait photographer’s work blends fine art photography with expressive depth to create works that feel both intimate and cinematic.

Jenny Boot’s Education and Career

Boot began her career as a painter before becoming a portrait photographer. The artist graduated in fashion photography at the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam and worked for fashion magazines before turning to photography as an artistic practice.

One of Jenny Boot’s career highlights has been her series of emotive female portraits based on Dutch art history. One work from this series, Black Girl with Pearl (2016), a modern iteration of the Johannes Vermeer classic, was added to the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam collection in 2020.

Jenny Boot’s Photography Process

Jenny Boot’s photographs nod to the traditions of portraiture, with their dark backdrops, contrast and lighting. The artist moved from painting to photography in order to have greater control over the feeling, atmosphere and drama of the print.

Boot’s expressive photography plays with intimacy and distance. In Last Potato Supper (2016), Boot combines the art historical reference of The Last Supper with editorial fashion photography to create a striking work that appears both private and eternal.

Jenny Boot Photography Collections and Awards

Jenny Boot’s unique approach to modern portraiture has seen her nominated for multiple awards, including the Photography Masters Cup and Cannes Lion. In 2012, the artist won the Members Choice Award PANL and in 2016 received an honourable mention at the prestigious Moscow International Foto Award.

Boot’s dark portrait photography has been featured at prestigious international art fairs and is featured in the collection of the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas alongside Damien Hirst, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. You can see Jenny Boot photography for sale on Rise Art.