The “Hidden Portraits” are photo collages. I create them by editing photos of historical portraits, concealing in various ways the faces of the people portrayed.

The entire face is covered by an absurd mask, piled-up fabric or a ceremonial wig. But nothing is added to the paintings. All the changes come from within the original itself.

Portrait paintings are the only pictorial testimonies of people until the invention of photography. They are defining our visual idea of a historic society. However, portraits were a luxury and limited exclusively to a privileged elite. The intention in portrait painting was not merely to depict individuals, but rather their representational significance. Thus, opulent clothes and elaborate accessories and attributes in the paintings attest to high social standing.

"Hidden Portrait" prints all come with a white border around the actual portrait. This is part of the artwork. One might be tempted to cover it up with a classical passepartout, but Volker's original intention is to keep the white edge visible - as a distinctly contemporary visual element setting a contrast to the otherwise classical aesthetics.