Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms 1879 - 1880

Edgar Degas crafted this aquatint etching, "Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms," capturing intimate moments of theatrical life. Notice the motif of the mirror, reflecting not just the physical image but also the complex layers of identity and representation. The gesture of the actress adjusting her hair, seen through the mirror, echoes the classical Venus, often depicted attending to her tresses. This simple act transcends its immediate context, resonating with centuries of artistic exploration of beauty, vanity, and self-awareness. The mirror itself is a powerful symbol—a portal to the self, but also to illusion and artifice. Throughout art history, the mirror appears in various forms, from vanitas paintings reminding us of mortality to portraits exploring the sitter's inner psyche. Here, Degas uses it to hint at the performative nature of identity, reminding us that what we see is often a carefully constructed image. This image taps into our collective fascination with self-perception, engaging viewers on a deeply subconscious level. The mirror motif, thus, moves through time, reflecting our ongoing quest to understand ourselves and the images we project to the world.