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| Before the Mirror courtesy of the Guggenheim.org |
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| At the Dressing Table courtesy of Wikipedia |
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Although my day of museum going didn't go as planned I was able to see a stunning painting by Eduoard Manet.
Before the Mirror depicts a French courtesan gazing at her image in the mirror. Although the concept is not as controversial today as it was in 19th century France, the painting itself is breathtaking. The simplicity itself is magnificent as the artist is able to fully capture this ordinary event in such a way that it becomes an art form. The image appears different when looked at various angles and the viewer becomes a part of the painting, looking at the woman as she in turn is observing herself. A hint of mystery is created by the missing reflection in the mirror. I personally enjoyed the light blues that made up the composition. This painting also brought to mind a self portrait done by Zinaida Serebriakova. The self portrait entitled
At the Dressing Table, was considered Serebriakova's greatest work of art. Like Manet's
Before the Mirror Serebriakova's work is able to impart a sense of mystery and intrigue the viewer. It's interesting to note how a similar occupation could intrigue two very different artists.
Pugs are known for being adorable, clown-like creatures. What most people don't know is that they have a long history as companions to royalty. One of the most famous pugs belonged to empress Josephine. His name was Fortune and proved to be more than a match for the empress' powerful husband, Napoleon. Fortune was Josephine's constant companion, he even shared her bed. Legend has it that on the couple's wedding night when Napoleon was about to join his spouse in the marriage bed Fortune bit the emperor's leg. It seems that the dog was unhappy with the thought of sharing his mistress with another. To make matters worse, when Napoleon wanted to have the dog remove Josephine made it clear that if it was a choice between him and the dog, the dog would be the one to stay. Imagine the irony of the winner of the Battle of Austerlitz being beaten by a tiny pug !
