A Woman Combing Her Hair in Front of a Mirror 

This sketch by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner shows a woman seated before a mirror, absorbed in the act of combing her hair. Throughout art history, the mirror has symbolized vanity, self-awareness, and truth. Here, the woman's focused gaze into the mirror suggests a moment of introspection, inviting a parallel with the classical myth of Narcissus, who became entranced by his own reflection. But Kirchner’s woman is not admiring; her features, though minimal, reveal a sense of melancholy, as she is confronted with her own image, her existence. Consider the cyclical nature of these motifs: the mirror’s reflective surface and the comb's rhythmic motion—both echo the passage of time and the constant flux of identity. The act of grooming is a recurring theme and has shifted from simple acts of personal care to a potent symbol of self-examination, leaving us to ponder the complex interplay between perception and reality.