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Reflections on Silver in Art - An Introduction
Working at Koopman and being surrounded by silver every day means that now wherever I go I have a magpie instinct. Not only am I drawn to pieces of silver but also depictions of silver (as well as jewellery and Kunstkammer) in art. Silver has always occupied a position in painting. Before it became a subject of focused attention, it appeared in artworks showing it as part of daily life, with cups, plates, candlesticks, and tea services often depicted. When discussing silver with people in the gallery and at fairs, we often say how silver not only showed material wealth but also ritual, taste, and social order. The same goes for its use in painting. Artists also seem to be drawn to painting silver, attempting to depict the way it reflects the light as a way of showing off their skill and how they can handle the light.
