The Mirror 

Gabriel von Max created this painting, titled ‘The Mirror’, using traditional materials and processes associated with fine art. Consider the interplay between the girl's direct gaze and the reflective surface of the mirror, as this creates an intricate dialogue between perception and reality. The smoothness and texture of her skin, carefully rendered with delicate brushwork, invites us to contemplate the material qualities of paint itself. Von Max uses the materiality of oil paint to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow. The painting also encourages us to consider the social context in which the painting was made, the late nineteenth century. The material qualities of the dress and its drapery, painted in meticulous detail, evoke the culture of beauty and adornment, offering insight into the values and ideals of the time. Paying attention to the materials, making, and cultural context encourages us to look closely and understand the full meaning of the work.