Guirlandes de fleurs. Peinture sur un miroir. 1841

Narcisse-Virgilio Diaz painted this floral garland directly onto a mirror, using oil paint. A mirror is typically a surface for reflection, but here it becomes a ground for illusion. Diaz's lively brushstrokes and delicate color palette are crucial to the work's effect. The material qualities of oil paint – its viscosity and opacity – allow the artist to build up layers of texture, creating a sense of depth and volume in the floral arrangement. Painting on a mirror subverts the traditional hierarchy of art and craft; mirrors have a functional use but, by painting directly onto the surface, Diaz transforms it into a decorative artwork. Consider the implications of painting flowers on a mirror. Both flowers and mirrors have long been associated with vanity and fleeting beauty. By combining them, Diaz creates a poignant meditation on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of decay. Ultimately, this mirror challenges us to reconsider the relationship between art, craft, and the everyday object.