Jeroen Hanselaer

Jeroen Hanselaer
Visages du Sahel: Beauty in the Struggle

The Sahel, a vast stretch of land that borders the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, is a place where life is defined by endurance and resilience. In this remote region, the landscape is both stark and stunning, a testament to the strength of those who call it home. Through the lens of Visages du Sahel, photographer Jeroen Hanselaer captures the faces of the people who thrive in this unforgiving environment.

Here, people carve out lives with quiet dignity, embracing the challenges that come with a harsh climate and scarce resources. The images in this series do not simply document the difficulties of their existence; they reveal the profound beauty that emerges from resilience, from the hands worn by work, and the eyes that have witnessed both struggle and survival.

Each portrait tells a story of the human spirit, interwoven with the rhythms of the land. In the Sahel, beauty is found in the very fabric of hardship, where the daily fight for sustenance and survival becomes an art form. Hanselaer’s images invite us to reflect on this unique aesthetic, to see beyond the surface of deprivation, and to appreciate the quiet moments of strength, solidarity, and grace that make life in the Sahel extraordinary.

These images were captured in the regions of Batha, Ouaddaï, and Wadi Fira between 2021 and 2023, documenting a powerful glimpse of life across this challenging yet beautiful landscape.