IJdelheid 1858

This is 'IJdelheid', made by Herman Löwenstam. The artwork is a print, which allows for meticulous detail. The image shows a woman looking at herself in a mirror. What can this medium tell us about its message? Well, prints like this one were often circulated widely. This puts the concept of vanity in an interesting light. Is it a sin to be indulged in secret, or is it a behavior that is amplified by being put on display? And who gets to decide what is beautiful, anyway? Consider the labor involved: someone had to make the clothes this woman wears, and someone else had to hold up the mirror. But the artist's skill is paramount, rendering all of this in monochrome. It is a reminder that even the simplest image is a complex layering of material conditions and ways of making. Only by recognizing this can we fully appreciate the richness of the artwork.