The Reflected Self
What do you see when you look in a mirror? Initially, a reflection of your own image, one created within yourself, but gaze a bit longer and you might begin to see more. Thoughts might go beyond your physical presence; your mind begins to create a new image, one that is not contained in the image. This type of self-examination is often frustrating, since the way we perceive ourselves is often in discordance with the images we see. Part of this rift is caused as images are mediated through various lenses created by a variety of means including societal pressures and cultural norms. The reflected self is also a representation of the artist’s personal condition, which he or she has reflected onto their portrait. Portraits of the reflected self may show a likeness to the sitter, but may also represent another subject entirely, allowing the artist to work through an idea using surrogate bodies or forms. By this principal, portraits are not merely transcriptions of the sitter’s features; their representation or manipulation by the artist is a discursive act, one that creates a portraiture beyond likeness.
