Desdemona’s Death Song – Drapery Study 

Rossetti's pencil on paper "Desdemona's Death Song – Drapery Study" captures the tragic heroine in quiet contemplation, holding a mirror as a symbol of vanity but also self-awareness. The mirror motif carries echoes of the classical myth of Narcissus, obsessed with his reflection to the point of death. Here, though, the mirror seems to reflect Desdemona's recognition of her impending doom, her gaze distant and sorrowful. Consider how often the mirror appears throughout art history. From Renaissance vanitas paintings symbolizing mortality, to its role in folklore as a portal or a revealer of truth, the mirror is a potent image. There's a deep psychological tension, a visual echo of our own anxieties about identity and fate. The way Rossetti captures Desdemona’s emotional vulnerability engages us on a profound, almost subconscious level. Like the ever-changing reflections in a mirror, symbols evolve. They resurface, laden with history, yet adapted to new cultural landscapes. Rossetti masterfully harnesses this to evoke a timeless sense of tragedy.