Girl in Mirror by Roy Lichtenstein

Approaching the pop exploration of identity and modern vanity, the mirror imposes itself as a recurring and particularly rich motif in meanings. The eminent American artist Roy Lichtenstein thus designs “Girl in Mirror”, a brilliant portrait of a woman admiring her own image. Through this dynamic close-up, the painter subtly questions the fascination of consumer society with physical appearance.

A young blonde woman laughs out loud while contemplating her reflection in a small circular pocket mirror. Her long sparkling canary yellow hair frames a happy face whose red lips reveal impeccably white teeth. The round object she holds reveals her own image dotted with small pink Ben-Day circles on a halftone background. The solid, scarlet red background gives great plastic strength to the whole graphic composition. The tilt of the face and the play of shadows create a feeling of immediate proximity. The bright projected light accentuates the young woman’s communicative good mood.

The art of painting is distinguished here by a perfect juxtaposition of saturated flat areas and geometric patterns repeated with accuracy. The purity of the contours drawn with a black brush demonstrates a formal rigor worthy of a professional draftsman. Through this play of mirrors, Lichtenstein proves his absolute mastery of pictorial space.