Ed van der Elsken stamps once again

You are undoubtedly surprised that, following the article of August 19 about photographer and filmmaker Ed van der Elsken, I am once again drawing attention to the same person with the same stamp sheet today. Well, there is a very clear reason for it!

A strange bird in the flock!

The article text is taken in very general, unsubstantive terms (without philatelic accents) from the Rijksmuseum press release regarding an exhibition by a certain Ed van der Elsken (still on view until September 13), in combination with the image of the stamp sheet of the same name.

Absolutely no attention is paid to the fact that a stamp issue was also dedicated to Van der Elsken in 2016, even though I am convinced that space has naturally been made for this issue at the exhibition in the Rijksmuseum. What a shame!
However, I can well imagine that an interested freestampmagazine reader would appreciate such information. With little effort, this background information, which I hereby offer you, can easily be found.

It is certainly worth mentioning that the stamp ought to take center stage on freestampmagazine, and definitely not the mention of an exhibition as a cultural event. The Pasar Malan article also receives full attention in the blog once again as a gastronomic highlight. The stamp is featured in this article as visual decoration as well! How a side issue can be promoted to a main issue. Indeed, still incomprehensible!

Ed van der Elsken stamp issue

The ten Ed van der Elsken stamps, featuring no fewer than 19 partial images, focus on color photography. For the graphic design duo Marco Stout & Evelyne Kramer, the design of Van der Elsken's 1977 color photo book 'Eye love you' served as the inspiration for this stamp sheet.

The committed street photographer Ed van der Elsken (1925 – 1990) managed to capture a snapshot of the 70s with very personal photography. He was a great photographer of people. His main subject was what people make of life and what life does to people.

Design of the stamp sheet

The photos are placed on a black background bearing the photographer's name in three colors corresponding to those of the photobook. The black border surrounding the photos creates the impression that the stamp sheet consists of five film strips. In doing so, the design duo attempts to do the stamp sheet the best possible justice to Van der Elsken. The photographer's signature and the logo of the Nederlands Fotomuseum appear on the top margin of the sheet.

a) Before marriage – in marriage

1) Three young girls in miniskirts pass photographer Ed van der Elsken in Amsterdam's Beethovenstraat in 1997, exuberantly and with a cheerful expression. Recently (in 2015), the young women discover his additional photos and walk up to the photographer. Filmmaker Bahram Adeghi tracked down one of the women. She is now 57 years old.

2) Stopping for a moment for a chat at the pedestrian crossing on the way to a nightlife venue (1973/75).

3) Partially undressed as rolling foreplay to love.

4) Getting married and having children can be blissful: love, warmth, fun, pride, nurturing, caution, and care.

b) Pink in a figurative sense

1) A man dressed in pink lights a cigarette.

2) A pink-helmeted lady cycling in a mini-skirt has a helmeted child in the seat on the back.

3) A passionate embrace with a kiss on the pink cloud of two madly in love.

c) Challenging and attractive

1) Soon the blessed thunder of love will begin for them too.

2) With the help of a roaring engine, you can make an impressive impression on girls.

3) There is a striking similarity and contrast between the two photos:

• impressive masses of curly hair from two people
• A partner-seeking single who cannot yet embrace anything in his arms (clearly adorned to stand out) stands opposite a proud couple embracing a child.

4) An encounter of Van der Elsken: “May I take a quick photo of you? Snap. “Hello.” I probably never see them again.  

d) The course of life

1) A farmer and his wife who seem to be doing well live together harmoniously as husband and wife.

2) Looking silly behind the pram. The great happiness or the great decline has begun.

3) A promising couple. He stepping smartly and she looking up at him.

4) Seeking support allows the shoelace to be tightened. The route can be continued in 'high heels'.

e) Emotional life: starting constructively – ending deconstructively

1) This young lady looks forward to the future and life with great anticipation.

2) Fun and cheerful in the interplay: man jumps down cheerfully with outstretched arms,

     while the women look on. The child walks away.

3) Living separately side by side? A man stands in front of a woman.

4) In our comfortable lives, one still often suffers from loneliness, heartbreak, addiction,

     Powerlessness or self-contempt. End result? Resignedly rejected.