Claudiu Guraliuc

My work is first and foremost an attempt to translate the Old Masters aesthetic to the modern means of expression of photography. I know it`s a kind of mimetism. But I can't stop loving it.

The 16th-17th century painting has always been close to my soul. I fell in love with the drama of chiaroscuro, the atmosphere and composition of the baroque paintings. Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Caravaggio....Only when I started to look at the work of these titans with the hungry eye of the photographer in search of an aesthetic to resonate with, did I really begin to see. 

This is when I truly felt that my work fulfills me creatively.

So, I started with simple portraits and a lot of questions. How would the Old Masters have done it? What would the lighting be? The color scheme? The expressions, the atmosphere? How would it have made the viewer feel?

From these simple portraits, I went to more elaborate series of images, usually of mythological or biblical inspiration, sometimes including a slight erotic twist to the mix, often working with professional actors to better bring my vision to life. 

This imagery is quintessential for my work and style.

At the end of the day, my images are about who I am, more than anything else. They`re the product of my experience, memories, emotions, accomplishments, and trauma alike. Stories I saw with my eyes wide shut and fell in love with.


"Prisoners" is part of my multiple award winning, baroque inspired series. 
To celebrate my 45th birthday on 17th of December, for the first time, I am minting an artwork part of this series as an open edition. 
Hopefully, this will allow anyone who loves the aesthetic of my work to own a part of it.