The Tortoiseshell Mirror 

In 1903, George Henry captured this scene of a woman gazing into a tortoiseshell mirror. The mirror, a symbol of vanity and self-reflection, has ancient roots. Consider its use in classical mythology with Narcissus, who wasted away staring at his reflection, forever caught in the allure of his own image. Mirrors have long fascinated us. Their surfaces offering not just a likeness, but also a space for introspection and perhaps, a confrontation with our inner selves. This act of reflection can be seen in other artworks, such as Jan van Eyck's "Arnolfini Portrait", where the mirror in the background captures the unseen witnesses. The mirror, with its shifting reflection, becomes a portal, a stage where identity is perpetually performed and scrutinized. In that psychological space, emotions are amplified, laying bare our deepest anxieties and desires, echoing through time and art.