A R T P R I N T S
WATER PORTRAITS
Water Portraits
Fine Art Photography by Alex ten Napel
Exploring the Depth of the Human Face
Where Emotion Surfaces
In 2005, Dutch photographer Alex ten Napel began his acclaimed Water Portraits series — a striking exploration of emotion, identity, and the beauty of the human face.
To create these fine art portraits, he built a custom studio in the water of a swimming pool. With each subject positioned at the waterline — their wet hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows glistening against a white background and square composition — every detail draws attention to the essence of the human face. Emotions emerge naturally, life reveals itself in a fleeting moment, and that instant becomes a timeless photographic portrait.
With Water Portraits, Alex ten Napel explores how subtle expressions unveil the depth and complexity of the human inner world. His portraits reveal both the vulnerability and the strength of human emotion.
Alex ten Napel’s Water Portraits
Internationally Exhibited
Award-Nominated Fine Art Photography
The series has received international recognition and has been featured in leading photography exhibitions and publications. Extensive portfolios appeared in ZOOM Magazine and the Saturday supplement of Le Monde. After its debut at the Epson Photo Festival in Naarden (2005), Water Portraits was exhibited at Paris Photo in 2005 and 2006. The series earned nominations for both the Prix BMW Paris Photo and a nomination for the Photographic Portrait Prize, awarded by the National Portrait Gallery, London. Today, Water Portraits are part of private art collections of photography lovers and collectors worldwide.
Discover more about Alex ten Napel’s work:
[Exhibitions] · [Biography] · [Press and Reviews]
Fine Art Prints for Collectors
Water Portraits are available as fine art prints in two limited editions, offered in different sizes and edition numbers.Framed works are sold only within the Netherlands, as they are too fragile to ship internationally. Each artwork can be framed to museum standards and customized to suit your personal taste by a local framer.Personal guidance and framing recommendations are available for international collectors upon request.
Below is a curated selection of Water Portraits. Click on any image to open the order/inquiry form.
Authenticity Guaranteed
Free Worldwide Shipping
Payment is only required once the print has been received undamaged and in perfect condition.
Shipping is free worldwide.
Each artwork includes a certificate of authenticity and a signed sticker for the back of the frame, listing the title, year, edition number, size, and technique. Both are signed by Alex ten Napel and sent separately from the print. Together, they confirm the work’s authenticity as an official fine art photography edition from Alex ten Napel Fine Art Photography, Amsterdam.
High-Resolution Fine Art Photography
Printed to Perfection
Images on this website are displayed in low resolution to ensure smooth browsing and prevent unauthorized copying.
The actual fine art prints, however, reveal the full visual power of the originals — incredible sharpness, detail, and color in both small and large formats.
Each print is developed, printed, and quality-checked by the artist himself.
Printed on Premium Lustre Photo Paper (260 g/m²) using Epson UltraChrome K3 inks, these fine art prints offer museum-quality color depth, durability, and archival longevity.
To see how framed Water Portraits look in collectors’ homes,
look here » to view photos shared by clients.
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