Paint It Black I

This photographic base was shot in Cologne, Germany.

Printed on Fine Art Hahnemühle Hemp Natural Line 290 g/m2.

Each print comes signed and numbered. 

Unframed. With a small white border. Send in a tube.

Print size 90 x 75 cm - Edition of 10

Print size 60 x 50 cm - Edition of 10.

Print size 30 x 25 cm - Edition of 10.

Print size 10,5 x 14,8 cm (DIN A6) - Open Edition.

A silent scream dressed in liquid shadows.

Some images feel like late-night conversations with a stranger—you don’t know exactly where you’re headed, but you can’t stop listening. "Paint it Black I" by Thomas Haensgen carries this elusive magic. It’s an arresting portrait of the body as both battleground and sanctuary, drenched in layers of metaphorical ink.

In this piece, the model’s body stretches out, suspended between tension and release. Black paint weaves its way across her skin, not flowing naturally but carving its path like stubborn rain cutting through dirt. The texture of the ink feels deliberate, oppressive even, as if it’s actively trying to redefine her identity. There’s a quiet violence here, a struggle that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt at odds with themselves or the world. Yet, amidst this conflict, there’s peace—a stillness that makes you want to hold your breath, lest you disturb the delicate balance.

Haensgen’s dramatic lighting and visceral approach to the body draw comparisons to Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro, but stripped of religious narrative and imbued with raw modernity. At the same time, the defiance and chaos of the black paint nod to the punk aesthetic, a rebellion against polished perfection. It’s as though Haensgen has taken the elegance of Renaissance painting and smashed it against the cultural dissent of the late 20th century, leaving us with a work that feels timeless and entirely of the moment. Perhaps the most striking aspect of "Paint it Black I" is its emotional resonance. The image speaks to that universal experience of carrying invisible burdens—shadows that cling to us, refusing to let go. It’s the artistic equivalent of seeing your roommate sitting on the floor in existential crisis, eating cereal out of a mug, and realizing you’re both fighting the same battle.

This isn’t just a photograph; it’s a conversation, a confession, a challenge. Haensgen invites us to look beyond the paint and the body, into the spaces where chaos and calm coexist. It’s an image that refuses to be forgotten—like a stain on your memory that only grows richer with time.