Cradle
PHOTOGRAPHER: PAUL BELLAART
In Cradle, Paul Bellaart captures a moment of profound humility and grace: two hands delicately enveloping a stone just beneath the surface of still water. Stripped of ornament and artifice, this photograph channels Bellaart’s signature worldview—a lens imbued with edenistic naiveté and reverence for the elemental. Renowned for his poetic minimalism and instinctive approach, Bellaart approaches photography less as a technical act and more as a ritual of noticing. Here, the humble act of holding a stone becomes a devotional gesture, a secular offering to nature itself. There is no bravado—only presence, intimacy, and awe. The composition, rendered in quiet black-and-white, resonates with the traditions of spiritual realism, recalling the tactile sensibility of Peter Hujar or the contemplative quietude of Wolfgang Tillmans’s early still lifes.
Whether placed in a contemporary interior or a nature-inspired setting, Cradle invites a pause. It’s a work that rewards slow looking—an echo of a more innocent, humanscale relationship with the natural world.
Trunk Archive Collection.Edition of 15.
Larger exceptional formats and custom sizes available upon request at contact@theselectsgallery.com.
Product will be ready to ship in approximately 6 weeks.
We use a high quality shatter-proof acrylic glass and on the back, a hanging system makes your piece ready to hang!
Size choices refer to paper size. Image size is affected when it includes a border or no border. The wood frame is in addition. Dimension of the frames are:
- 1” Face, 2 1/4” Depth for black frames
- 1” Face, 2” Depth for White painted frames
Framing Options
Each photograph is available in a range of bespoke framing styles, thoughtfully designed to enhance the visual impact and protect the integrity of the work. See our Quality page for more details.
Acrylic
A borderless display that protects your print under glossy acrylic, intensifies contrast and color, and adds a striking sense of depth and clarity to the image.
Classic Frame
A timeless choice that combines elegance with subtle depth, using hand-crafted wooden frames and archival materials.
Shadow Box
Our most elevated option, the Shadow Box adds dramatic depth with a floating effect—ideal for showcasing photography with presence.
Compare Framing Options
Explore the unique benefits of each of our fine art finishes — from minimalist Dibond to gallery-style Shadow Box presentations.
| Feature | Dibond | Acrylic | Classic Frame | Shadow Box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archival Fine Art Paper | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Shatter-Proof Acrylic Glass | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Handcrafted Wooden Frame | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Floating / Deep Presentation | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ |