Taking a break from installing a show in Stockholm, my wife and I had gone shopping in the Old Town. We came across an antique shop selling Russian Icons that I really liked. They were only a hundred or so years old but reminded me of early Renaissance paintings, like those of Duccio or Cimabue. There was one of a Madonna and child set behind a sculpted silver background that I particularly liked. At the time I didn't have the courage to buy one but had promised myself that if the exhibition went well, I would. A year passed and I returned to Stockholm, this time on my own on a day trip. I was there to photograph three people in order to make their portraits. To my surprise the gallerist asked me to make a portrait of himself as well. I took this extra commission as a sign that I should splash out and buy the Icon. As soon as the photo session was over I headed off along the harbor front. I had a lot of trouble finding the antique shop and when I finally located it, it was closed. There was a sign in the window that someone translated for me. It said the owner would return in a half hour. I was running out of time to get back to the airport but I wandered around and bought some presents for my family. The shop remained deserted so eventually I gave up and left to catch my plane.
Taking a break from installing a show in Stockholm, my wife and I had gone shopping in the Old Town. We came across an antique shop selling Russian Icons that I really liked. They were only a hundred or so years old but reminded me of early Renaissance paintings, like those of Duccio or Cimabue. There was one of a Madonna and child set behind a sculpted silver background that I particularly liked. At the time I didn't have the courage to buy one but had promised myself that if the exhibition went well, I would. A year passed and I returned to Stockholm, this time on my own on a day trip. I was there to photograph three people in order to make their portraits. To my surprise the gallerist asked me to make a portrait of himself as well. I took this extra commission as a sign that I should splash out and buy the Icon. As soon as the photo session was over I headed off along the harbor front. I had a lot of trouble finding the antique shop and when I finally located it, it was closed. There was a sign in the window that someone translated for me. It said the owner would return in a half hour. I was running out of time to get back to the airport but I wandered around and bought some presents for my family. The shop remained deserted so eventually I gave up and left to catch my plane.
