At the Dressing Table c. 1880

Mary Cassatt created this print, "At the Dressing Table," with drypoint and aquatint. The mirror is the dominant symbol, and the meaning behind it is revealed across time and cultures. The mirror, as seen here, is more than a reflective surface; it is a deep well of self-perception. From the myth of Narcissus to Velázquez's "Venus at Her Mirror," the mirror reflects not just the physical, but also the psychological and emotional landscape of the subject. Consider the evolution of Venus, a goddess born of seafoam, associated with mirrors. Over time, she symbolizes the female gaze, and the act of self-reflection. Cassatt’s image echoes this, but shifts the focus to the intimate, internalized experience of women. The mirror becomes a tool for navigating identity in the modern world. The symbols are not linear but cyclical, constantly resurfacing.