Dressing Mirror c. 1938

This 'Dressing Mirror' was made by Frank Wenger, sometime between 1855 and 1955. I love how solid and upright this dressing mirror is! Wenger uses brown hues to define this structure, a color palette which gives the whole thing a warm and approachable feel. I can almost imagine the process of Wenger layering the paints, building up the image, stroke by stroke. What was he thinking as he painted each little detail? Was he considering its function? It's fascinating how these simple, almost mundane, objects can become imbued with such personality through painting. I'm drawn to the way Wenger renders the subtle variations in tone. It reminds me that art, in its own way, is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time. Painting embraces ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations. There is no single fixed reading, and maybe that's the point!