Bert Teunissen's 'Paisajes domésticos' captures vanishing European homes

Dutch photographer Bert Teunissen has spent the last decade documenting hundreds of old European houses in his series 'Paisajes domésticos'. These homes, built before the world wars and widespread electricity, feature natural light as a key interior design element. Teunissen's images evoke Dutch masters like Vermeer and Rembrandt through his color palette and sensitivity to light. Details include ornamental wallpaper, ancestral portraits, homemade cured hams hanging from exposed beams, and decorative dishware proudly displayed on fireplace mantels. The series aims to capture the intangible essence of domestic spaces that hold memories of love, nostalgia, joy, and sadness. These charismatic environments radiate a warm atmosphere that defies time. However, such houses are rapidly disappearing due to urbanization and new European Union legislation. Teunissen's work preserves these last vestiges of old Europe, though they remain alive in the memories of those who lived in them.