Therefore, the mirror is a common prop in western painting. If it contains many secrets, it is neither religious nor political, but only artistic.
In other words, it is not only the need of artistic expression but also the technical consideration for western artists to place mirrors in their paintings.
Because the mirror presents a private space and gives people fascinating associations, it can help the author fully show the theme he wants to express and sublimate the characters and scenes in the painting.
As we all know, as early as the first century AD, large mirrors appeared in Europe, and convex lenses appeared in Nuremberg during the Renaissance. Mirrors are becoming more and more important in people's lives, which greatly enriches people's lives.
Venice, Italy is the center of making mirrors in Europe, and because Venice is one of the important birthplaces of the Renaissance, more and more works with mirrors appear in paintings. People who like western paintings are familiar with it. For example, Venus in the Mirror by Titian, Venus in Makeup by Rubens, Venus and Cupid, Gong E and venus at her mirror by Velazquez, Girl in the Mirror by Balthus, Dress by Boucher and so on. ?
In the classic oil paintings in the history of western art, religious mythical figures, princes and nobles, ladies and kings are all frequent visitors in oil paintings, and there are always mirrors in the pictures.
Mirrors can reflect light, enlarge the painting space, enrich the picture level, increase the texture of characters and change the narrative expression in painting.
For example, when we appreciate Venus in the mirror, we can't help admiring Venus' graceful figure, gentle curve and elegant posture, and unconsciously want to see the beauty of Venus.
The mirror in the painting can also help the owner to increase the layering of the three-dimensional space.
For example, the convex mirror in the painting "The Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Anofini" by the painter Yang Van Ike fully embodies the layout of the room, and also shows the witnesses present to the audience, which perfectly shows the solemnity of the wedding.
If the painter does not fully show the wedding scene on the convex mirror, there will be many characters in the painting, and the picture will be chaotic and unfocused. It would be too monotonous to show only husband and wife. From this perspective, mirrors are indispensable.
For another example, Velazquez's excellent work "Gong E". While the painter was painting portraits of the king and queen, two unexpected guests, the little princess and the maid-in-waiting, suddenly burst in. The painter took his time and recorded this dramatic scene vividly on the canvas with skillful painting skills.
The king and queen in the painting did not appear directly on the canvas, but were reflected by the mirror behind the little princess. It can be said that the mirror gives the painter more choices of expression methods and successfully creates the double space of the picture.
Therefore, the mirror in the painting can help the painter to reflect a wider space on the limited canvas space, expand and enrich the three-dimensional real space of the picture, successfully extend the space of the picture, and even create a double space.