Vincent Mentzel, born in 1945, is considered an influential photojournalist whose work spans a period of more than 50 years. The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam is now exhibiting Mentzel's photographs in the retrospective Vincent Mentzel from January 28 to June 6, 2022. In it, the exhibition traces above all how the importance of photography changed with the spread of serious newspapers. Originally decorative accessories, images that generate attention through drama or wit, for example, are now an important part of news coverage. Mentzel is one of the photographers who played a significant role in this development.
After his first years as a freelancer, Mentzel worked for the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad starting in the early 1970s. His unconventional photographs quickly made him well-known and contributed significantly to Handelsblad's reputation as a left-liberal quality newspaper. Among other things, Mentzel portrayed the Dutch royal family in unusual ways and increasingly accepted commissions abroad. His unique images of political and social events earned him numerous awards worldwide.
