Dressing Mirror c. 1938

Samuel O. Klein made this "Dressing Mirror" sometime in the twentieth century, probably with watercolor and pencil. Look at those subtle lines and soft washes—you can see the whole thing slowly emerging. It’s like Klein discovered the mirror rather than just drew it. I'm curious about what Klein was thinking while making this. Was he interested in the play of light on the object, or maybe just the shapes? There's something so tender about the way he rendered it. It feels like he gave space to the mirror. The warm, subdued tones, that gentle gray-gold, give the mirror a quiet sort of presence. It’s not flashy; it’s solid and inviting, like a familiar room. The animal shapes are wonderful, perching on top of the oval frame. We see each other, artists I mean, as part of this long, continuous conversation through images. Klein’s mirror is a reminder that even the most ordinary things can reflect something extraordinary, if you just take the time to look.