Narcissus
Liquidambar styraciflua
126x180cm - edition of four plus artist’s proof
63x90cm - edition of 5
This picture is of the two sides of one leaf and hence represents a kind of reflection. Narcissus’ death through vanity seems to be a highly appropriate topic within my overall theme. Leon Alberti wrote in the 15th century that Narcissus was the founder of painting (“the flower of the arts”): “What is painting but the act of embracing with art that which is presented on the surface of a pool?”.
Art as the mirror of nature seems to have been a core belief of the Dutch still life masters. Whilst painting has of course developed in many different directions since then, the phrase is an appropriate description of much photographic art.
Narcissus, Caravaggio, c.1597-99