Stue 1900

Vilhelm Hammershøi's painting captures a woman in a room, a mirror hanging above a round table, and a door slightly ajar. The mirror, a symbol of introspection and truth, has been used throughout history to engage viewers on a subconscious level, evoking intense emotional states. Mirrors recur in art as symbols of vanity, self-awareness, and the ephemeral nature of life, from Van Eyck's "Arnolfini Portrait" to Velázquez's "Las Meninas." In Hammershøi's rendition, the mirror reflects light and distorts reality, creating a sense of mystery and psychological depth. The motif of the open door, suggesting the possibility of transition or escape, echoes in other works. In a continuous cycle, we return to similar symbols through time, each epoch reshaping their meanings to reflect its own concerns. This cyclical progression underscores the persistence of fundamental human experiences across time.