Raimond Wouda, 2006
Veluws College, Apeldoorn
Created by Raimond Wouda in 2006. The artwork is a c-print and displayed at 104 x 134 cm.
The bell rings: a bustling cacophony of pupils’ voices, footsteps and excitement fills the school hallway. For his series School, the Dutch artist Raimond Wouda visited secondary schools across the Netherlands. The final result is a series of modern-day group portraits, a genre reminiscent of the famous Dutch civic guard paintings from the 16th century, such as The Night Watch by Rembrandt. Amidst a busy crowd in a catholic high school in the provincial town of Apeldoorn, a Muslim girl lost in thought draws our attention. What is on her mind?
Notice the point of view chosen by the photographer: the camera’s high vantage point offers a complete overview of the school's hallway, conveying the hustle and bustle of students in-between classes. Wouda deliberately chose the moments outside of the classroom: it is in these places where students can be themselves and unleash their energy. Each image created by Wouda is part of a sociological map that captures the behaviour of, interactions between, and trends among an entire generation of students.
© Raimond Wouda, courtesy of the Foam Collection