Ontwerp voor een staande spiegel c. 1820 - 1823

Carl Wilhelm Marckwort made this design for a standing mirror using pen and gray ink. Imagine the world in which this mirror might come to life – a domestic space of the upper classes. The standing mirror carries a history of class and gender. Mirrors, historically luxury items, reflect not just images, but also status. Consider the act of gazing into a mirror. For whom was this luxury intended, and how might it shape their self-perception? Historically, the act of self-reflection has been fraught for women, often tied to societal expectations of beauty and propriety. This design offers a glimpse into a world of privilege, but it also invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in the simple act of looking at oneself.