The Mirror 

Vicente Romero painted 'The Mirror' using pastels, in what could be today. In it a nude woman reclines facing away from us, her head turned towards a mirror where we can see her face. The image is evocative, conjuring both intimacy and a sense of distance. The woman's gaze, directed at her own reflection, invites consideration of the artist's intent. What does it mean to observe someone in a private moment of self-reflection? This scene could speak to the broader historical context of representing women in art and to ideas about female identity. Historically, female subjects were often portrayed to fulfill the male gaze. While we are positioned as voyeurs, the woman seems contemplative and self-possessed. She is inviting us to think about identity and representation, and the multifaceted relationship one can have with oneself.