ART & SCULPTURE
The art of reflection characterises the watchmaker ’ s way of working : final assembly of a movement by A . Lange & Söhne .
“ This painting is one of a series of paintings in which individuals , mostly women , pause in the course of an activity , resting and reflecting ,” says Stephan Koja , director of the Old Masters Picture Gallery . “ Vermeer addresses fundamental questions of our existence .” As such , ‘ On Reflection ’ could also be the title of Vermeer ’ s entire artistic oeuvre . The artist , whose body of work only consists of around 35 known paintings , understood how to capture certain moods of his era like no other . Each of his paintings rewards the viewer with the discovery of magnificent details .
Wilhelm Schmid , Lange CEO , sees parallels in this with the art of watchmaking , as practised at A . Lange & Söhne : “ The combination of interruption , reflection and concentration on the next step also characterises the working methods of the finisseurs and watchmakers . They are passionate about every detail , creating a precision-engineered microcosm that is also an inspirational objet d ’ art .”
Another aspect concerns the way in which restoration work is cultivated at A . Lange & Söhne – as a process that promotes knowledge .
Thanks to their experience with unique pocket watches , the Lange experts know the commitment it takes to restore an outstanding object back to its original condition and make it functional again . The best example of this is the restoration of the Grand Complication 42500 , which was sold to a Viennese collector in 1902 as A . Lange & Söhne ’ s most sophisticated watch . This major timepiece found its way back to its birthplace , the manufactory , in 2001 . As it was in very poor condition , it took a team of experts nine years to carefully restore . This was a remarkable achievement , as many of the timepiece ’ s 833 parts were corroded beyond recognition and had to be remade according to traditional expertise . The pocket watch is now on permanent loan to the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments in Dresden ’ s Zwinger Palace – a stone ’ s throw from the Old Masters Picture Gallery .
With the Vermeer exhibition and the restoration of the painting , the Dresden State Art Collections are able to offer a new perspective on the artist ’ s work , once again proving themselves an institution that has an important impact on the world of art history and culture . This is also the foundation for their partnership with A . Lange & Söhne , which began in 2006 and has just been renewed for another five years .
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Issue 50 2022 The Art of Luxury
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