Achterzijde spiegel met steun. c. 1700

This is a mirror backing, its date and maker are unknown, decorated with paint and metal. The dominant visual experience is one of decorative balance. A dark blue field is ornamented with figures and flora in gold and ochre, framed by an elaborate border. The composition is neatly divided, creating a structured tableau. The mirror's design employs a semiotic system rooted in cultural codes. The figures, their garments, and the natural elements are not merely aesthetic choices but function as signs. The arrangement of figures in a garden-like setting points to themes of harmony and social order. This challenges the traditional function of a mirror as a mere reflection of reality. Notice the interplay between the flat, patterned background and the attempts at depth through the depiction of figures. This tension destabilizes a fixed perspective, inviting multiple interpretations. It functions aesthetically but also as a reflection of larger cultural values, reminding us that art serves as a site of ongoing interpretation.