Reflections

Mirrors, whether natural or artificial, have a long-standing relationship with the visual arts and have never ceased to fascinate artists.

In the 15th century, Leon Battista Alberti turned the mythological figure of Narcissus, who marvelled at the sight of his reflection in water, into the inventor of painting, asking: “What is painting but the act of embracing by means of art the surface of the pool?” Using a natural body of water for reflection became a classic theme in landscape painting, before photography in turn took up the theme.

From the skyscrapers of New York to the icebergs of Greenland, from the man observing himself to the young girl turning away, reflection is a central theme of the contemporary works of this collection and draws us into its contemplations.