Edwin IJpeij

About Artist:

Edwin IJpeij (b. 1969) is a contemporary Dutch artist and inventor based near Maastricht. Working at the intersection of painting, photography, and alchemy, he transforms classical technique into a language of sensual power and visual tension. From his laboratorio, he explores the boundaries between beauty, desire, and control.

Often described as forbidden art, Edwin’s work redefines the gaze on the feminine. His nudes, stripped of artifice and portrayed with elegance and restraint, reveal strength rather than submission, an invitation to see beyond surface and seduction. Each piece captures that fragile point where allure meets authenticity.

Combining the Old Masters’ techniques of tempera and oil with his background in chemistry, Edwin creates his own pigments and materials, achieving a depth and texture reminiscent of Van Eyck and Leonardo. This meticulous process gives his portraits their distinctive luminosity and presence.

Edwin’s works have been exhibited internationally, including in Maastricht, Miami, Barcelona, London, Venice, Knokke, and Amsterdam, and are held in private collections across Europe. He is represented by Espace Art Gallery (Brussels) and Galerie ArtPéro (Namur, Belgium).

About Artwork:

Oil on marouflated panel. The linen structure is visible.

Frame: Italian wooden frame with hand-coloured silver leaf.

This work is an unica and from Edwin's Home Exclusive Collection. This painting is inspired by realising the impact of perishing beauty. The self-esteem of many women is depending on their attractiveness. With this painting, Edwin wants to trigger you to observe your own relationship towards true beauty: your inner beauty!

The hyperrealism posture of this lady is twisted, almost like a DNA helix, that emphasizes the matrix of life, the perfection of the female body, erotic beauties and the inspiration of female anatomy. But also, the DNA is the matrix of your essence. This painting is also an experiment of expressing the female landscape as a traditional still-life. Instead of rummers, girandoles or fruits, there are shown the beautiful round shapes of a lady. The clair obscure light co-works pleasantly with the composition, creating beautiful diagonal lines and round shapes. The intended anonymous atmosphere is emphasized by nearly abstract forms in this artwork. With this painting, Edwin has consciously chosen to represent the lady as a vanitas still-life, meaning that physical beauty is perishing, while inner beauty lasts forever. Be pure, not plastic!


In this artwork, Edwin used self-made paint made from traditional, genuine pigments to paint her skin. Also the panel is completely hand-prepared: the Belgian linen is glued on the multilayered wood and grounded with an oil based ground.?Frame: Italian wooden frame with hand-coloured silver leaf.