Circa 1985

Camille Claudel (1864-1943) was a French sculptur known for her figurative works in bronze and marble. She died in relative obscurity, but later gained recognition for the originality and quality of her work.

Circa 1989

Constant's house on the Kromme Waal was very close to the Amsterdam Red Light District, an area that suffered from a huge drug problem in the 1980's. This poignant image arose after Constant encountered one of the many heroin-addicted sex workers in his neighbourhood.

Constant and his partner Matie Domselaer, who would become his wife in 1942, lived along Sarphatipark in Amsterdam during the Second World War. During the war, artists were required to register with the Reich Chamber of Culture to be allowed to continue their practice. Constant did not register and would therefore hide in the crawl space under the house when danger approached. Matie would sit on the hatch to the crawl space and knit away as if nothing was out of the ordinary. 

Circa 1940