Mirror 1937

This little drawing of a mirror was made by Florence Stevenson at an unknown date with graphite on paper. You can see the artist's hand so clearly. She used simple tools - pencil on paper - but she created a complex interplay of light and shadow. I love how she rendered the textures, the way the scalloped forms of the frame catch the light. The graphite is layered, almost sculptural, making it pop off the page. Her touch feels direct and immediate, like she was figuring it out as she went, not afraid to leave in her corrections or stray marks. I see the echo of art nouveau in the stylized naturalism, and the formal but unrefined and humble rendering of the design is reminiscent of the drawings of Hilma af Klint. Ultimately, this drawing is about seeing—both the reflection in the mirror and the artist's reflection on the act of making. It's like she's inviting us to see the world through her eyes, one mark at a time.