Marmeren beeld van een vrouw in een hooggesloten jurk met in haar rechterhand een spiegel, in de linkerhand een slang. c. 1878 - 1881

This marble sculpture of a woman holding a mirror and a snake was created by Louis-Emile Durandelle. The cool, smooth stone allowed Durandelle to capture the flowing drapery of her garment. The way he coaxed form from the dense material of the marble is significant. Marble carving is a reductive process, requiring careful chiseling and grinding away of excess material. This labour-intensive process contrasts with the woman's serene expression. The snake and mirror have symbolic meanings, associated with healing, beauty, vanity, and the power of self-reflection, as well as their inherent reference to wealth and prestige. While the statue presents a timeless image, the labor involved in its creation—from quarrying the marble to the sculptor's meticulous work—connects it to specific economic conditions and the hierarchy of artistic production. Understanding the relationship between materials, making, and context allows us to question traditional notions of artistic value.