The Mirror 1896

Frank Dicksee made "The Mirror," with oil on canvas, and although the date of its making is unknown, it is a beautiful example of the Victorian era's obsession with beauty and romanticized depictions of women. The painting presents a woman gazing at her reflection. Her gaze is not merely about vanity but perhaps about self-assessment within the rigid social standards of Victorian society. The elaborate peacock feathers in the background might symbolize vanity and pride, but could also reference Aestheticism and its creed of "art for art's sake," of which Dicksee was an active proponent. It is interesting to see the ways the New Sculpture movement tried to shape the way women were regarded in the social life. To fully appreciate this piece, one could delve into the art criticism of the time, exploring the cultural debates around beauty, gender roles, and the purpose of art in a rapidly changing world. It's crucial to remember that art is not created in a vacuum, but in a specific socio-political context.