# Hauntingly Erased Portraits Unseen by Valentin van der Meulen are Ghostly Charcoal Works of Art By Meghan Young | Published 2014-06-12 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unseen-by-valentin-van-der-meulen References: [fubiz.net](http://www.fubiz.net/en/2014/06/12/unseen-and-untitled-portraits-series/) & [valentinvandermeulen](http://www.valentinvandermeulen.com/Unseen) There is a haunting essence behind the art series titled Unseen by Valentin van der Meulen, an artist who lives and works in Paris and Lille, France. Each piece is created with charcoal and blackstone. Yet the images are realistic enough to be considered [black and white photographs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color) that have been ruined in the printing process. Or scratched out intentionally. Whatever people may imagine the motive behind Unseen by Valentin van der Meulen, it is easy to agree that the [ghostly quality](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anima) of each image will send a chill down anyone's spine. Through his chosen medium, the French artist essentially [destroys the identity](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hughmanity) of his subjects. It is up to his audience to figure out if there is any malice behind the madness. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.5/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Ghostly Art:** Opportunities for creating haunting and unusual works of art that play between the lines of reality and surrealism. - **Charcoal Mediums:** Innovation in charcoal drawing techniques and materials, paving the way for a new generation of artists and styles. - **Identity Erosion:** Exploring the psychological impact of identity erosion in various art forms, from photography to painting and beyond. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art:** Opportunities for artists, galleries, and collectors to engage in unique and innovative works of art that blur the lines between reality and surrealism. - **Fine Art Supplies:** Innovation in the production of charcoal and other fine art materials to keep up with the evolving needs of artists. - **Psychology:** Opportunities for psychologists and mental health professionals to explore the impact of identity erosion, as depicted in various art forms. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Raw Metal Design Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nick-valentijn.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [Archival Pigment Art Print](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parallax.md) - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md) - [Striking Glass Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-portraits.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Surreal Love-Themed Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joakim-ojanen.md) - [Monochromatic Ghost Character Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monochromatic-ghost-character-sculptures.md)