Mirror 1936

Nicholas Gorid made this drawing of a mirror sometime in the 20th century. Look at how the watercolor washes pool within the lines of the drawing. It's like watching the image come into being through the simple act of applying water to paper, isn’t it? I like how the pale blues and greens create this sense of looking *through* the mirror, rather than *at* it. This illusion is enhanced by the subtle variations in tone, which hint at the texture of real glass, like the light shimmering off a window pane. The gilded frame and flourishes contrast with this ephemeral wash, creating an interplay between surface and depth, form and formlessness. The tassels hanging from the frame are a nice touch. They feel like an echo of the artist’s own hand, gently dangling, like he’s saying, “Here I am, still making, still seeing.” It reminds me a little of some of the interior design drawings of Josef Frank. The piece embraces openness and possibility, inviting us to see ourselves reflected in its fluid, ever-changing surface.