At a Mirror 1930s

Cyprián Majerník created this pencil drawing, called 'At a Mirror', at an unknown date. It shows a woman sitting in front of a mirror, one hand on her face. The sketch bears similarities to other images of women at their toilette in European art, yet in this piece, the treatment of the figure in relation to the looking glass seems to carry particular symbolic weight. Majerník was a Jewish artist who lived in Slovakia during World War II, and he eventually died in a concentration camp. Although a definitive date for the work is not known, the dark mood of the piece resonates with the historical context of Nazi persecution in Europe. The reflection appears ghostlike and indistinct, while the woman is clearly distressed. We might ask: does the mirror offer a truthful reflection, or does it reflect the subject's emotional state? What is the relationship between truth and illusion during times of conflict? Examining historical records and biographical information about the artist may help us understand the deeper meaning embedded in this drawing.