What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

In this artwork we see a woman, she is looking at herself in the mirror intently. We are not sure what story is depicted but we do understand a similar feeling that is being depicted in the painting. Her face does not depict much of a certain emotion but focuses more on herself. We understood this painting as a woman observing herself for any flaws.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

The visual element of light is used in this painting to center the viewer’s focus on the mirror and the woman’s face. By surrounding the woman and the mirror’s background with shadows it guides the viewer to the one area of light which is at the center of the painting. The paleness of her skin also plays into the drastic contrast of the dark and light.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

The museum chose to display the painting in the exhibit where there were many portraits of famous people such as George Washington. We thought that the painting fit well in this area since it was a hall dedicated to paintings with a person as the center focus.

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