The Mirror 

Erte, a Russian-born French artist, created "The Mirror," as an illustration in the Art Deco style. The image presents us with a woman gazing into a mirror, but the reflection is of the back of her head. This implies the preoccupation of the era, the Roaring Twenties, with appearances and the self-conscious construction of identity. The Art Deco movement emerged as a rejection of the austerity of the post-World War One period, embracing luxury, technology and modernity. Erte’s illustrations became a visual shorthand for this glamorous lifestyle. Erte’s work often featured in magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, thereby challenging the traditional art world's hierarchy that valued painting over commercial design. To fully appreciate Erte's contribution we can research fashion history, popular culture of the early 20th century, and the history of illustration. Through this we understand the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shape artistic production.