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Visual Clarity
Visual Clarity
October 8, 2025
Close-up of Mark Spitz training. Photographed for LIFE’s 1972 Olympic preview. The photo won World Press Photo ‘Sports’ in 1973 © The LIFE Picture Collection. Image by Co Rentmeester
Born in Amsterdam in 1936, Jacobus (“Co”) Rentmeester is considered one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century. As a trailblazer in photojournalism and advertising photography, he has shaped our collective visual memory with iconic images – among them his famous Jumpman shot of Michael Jordan, recognised by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential photographs of all time.
Witnessing Life showcases Rentmeester’s extraordinary ability to move seamlessly between subjects and genres. The exhibition spans from his powerful documentations of the 1965 Watts Riots and the Vietnam War, to his award-winning photographs of Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz, and the iconic imagery he created for a major tobacco brand. Rentmeester worked as a staff photographer for LIFE magazine from 1966 to 1972. During that time he produced 22 cover photos and gained recognition for his precision, visual clarity and emotionally resonant storytelling.
He remains the only Dutch photographer to have won a World Press Photo Award not just once, but twice. The showcase at Foam Amsterdam reflects on the artist’s unique ability to transcend genres, leaving a profound impact on journalistic, commercial and fine-art photography.
Katrin UllmannWitnessing Life showcases Rentmeester’s extraordinary ability to move seamlessly between subjects and genres. The exhibition spans from his powerful documentations of the 1965 Watts Riots and the Vietnam War, to his award-winning photographs of Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz, and the iconic imagery he created for a major tobacco brand. Rentmeester worked as a staff photographer for LIFE magazine from 1966 to 1972. During that time he produced 22 cover photos and gained recognition for his precision, visual clarity and emotionally resonant storytelling.
He remains the only Dutch photographer to have won a World Press Photo Award not just once, but twice. The showcase at Foam Amsterdam reflects on the artist’s unique ability to transcend genres, leaving a profound impact on journalistic, commercial and fine-art photography.
Close-up of Mark Spitz training. Photographed for LIFE’s 1972 Olympic preview. The photo won World Press Photo ‘Sports’ in 1973 © The LIFE Picture Collection. Image by Co Rentmeester
Michael Jordan, North Carolina, 1984 (Pre-Olympics)
© Co Rentmeester
A police bullet penetrated the windshield of the car but missed the driver, who ignored police calls to stop, 1965 © The LIFE Picture Collection. Image by Co Rentmeester
B-52 bomber dropping 500-pound bombs on enemy troops at the border of North Vietnam. With the camera mounted in the wing oft he plane, Rentmeester (sitting in the plane) fired the camera by wired remote, 1968 © The LIFE Picture Collection. Image by Co Rentmeester
Kecak Dance, Bali, 1968
© The LIFE Picture Collection. Image by Co Rentmeester.