April Fool 2020 by Erwin Olaf is a visual documentation of the coronavirus pandemic, a reminder of the fear and difficult position we may find ourselves in.

While that may sound very grim and depressing, this body of work encompasses much more than that. It is an intimate series, involving Erwin Olaf himself in almost every scene, each of which is impressively stylized and meticulously choreographed in his characteristic style.

The photographs are simultaneously personal and universal. Above all, the essence is the feeling the series expresses: how we are all affected by this crisis. The person wearing the pointed hat could be you or me.

The book contains all photographic works from April Fool 2020, as well as explanatory texts and an interview between Erwin Olaf and Erik van Ginkel, Managing Director of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.