ANNA JANSSEN

Photographer & Visual Designer

︎ aniajanssen_

My name is Anna Janßen (b. 1999), and I am a Polish artist based in The Hague, The Netherlands. I work primarily with photography and video, focusing on staged photography with a cinematic, narrative-driven approach.

Through my work, I aim to tell stories and give voice to those who need to be heard—creating carefully constructed, thought-provoking tableaux that merge visual aesthetics with emotional depth.

As a highly sensitive person, I connect deeply with others’ experiences by reflecting on my own personal struggles. This empathetic approach often leads me to use self-portraiture as a central element in my practice.

As an activist and feminist, I am committed to addressing issues of gender inequality through art. I believe art can spark critical conversations, while also providing a refuge—a safe space for women and marginalized audiences.

My narratives explore the toxic cultural attitudes toward the female body, including unrealistic beauty standards, gender discrimination, and the over sexualization of women. Over time, these themes have evolved to examine the ways in which harmful male behavior
and societal expectations impact women’s everyday lives.

By combining personal experience with research and dialogue, I create visual series that expose the brutal realities many women face.

Working with large-scale, staged productions allows me to take control of the visual narrative. For me, this act of staging is also an act of reclaiming power—especially as a woman—transforming emotional weight into visual language I can shape and share on my own terms.