We have a complex and obsessive relationship with mirrors. We feel naked without them especially because we are using them for putting on makeup and checking out our outfits. Other times, we feel vulnerable looking at mirrors. It is more than just a flat surface which we gaze at our reflection. It has evolved into an indispensable object.<\/p>\n\n\n
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The Original Mirrors<\/h2>\n
People first started to look at their reflections in pools of water, rivers, and streams which were the first mirrors. Around 600 B.C., humans began making very simple mirrors made from polished obsidian that creates a highly reflective surface. Through the years, humans began to design sophisticated mirrors with lead, gold, silver, and bronze. Because these materials are naturally heavy, the mirrors were very small, rarely exceeding eight inches in diameter.<\/p>\n
In the middle ages, contemporary mirrors have become popular. However, the production process is expensive and difficult. During the renaissance period, a low-temperature lead process was invented that helps improve the clarity of mirrors. It was the Venetians who have refined the mirror-making process using sophisticated advanced glass techniques.<\/p>\n
During the 1600s, mathematicians have begun using mirrors in telescopes. The first reflecting telescope was designed in 1721. Modern mirrors are produced using a silvering process wherein a layer of silver or aluminum is applied to the back of the glass. This provides the glass with a reflective surface. Today, mirrors are popular and found in all homes, especially in bathrooms. We have also written this article that discusses where bathroom mirrors should be placed<\/a>. You can check out the article for more information.<\/p>\n Mirrors are commonly used for personal grooming. They are available from small, portable, to a full-sized mirrors. Mirrors can be mobile, handheld, adjustable, or fixed. They are commonly found in the bathroom above the sink. You can find different sizes of mirrors and they can also be customized to perfectly fit your space.<\/p>\n Mirrors are a popular subject in the arts. You can see a lot of painting with a mirror in them. A painting that depicts someone gazing into the mirror often always shows the person\u2019s reflection. Most of the time, the reflection in the mirror is the same as the face of the person. However, there are some paintings where the person in the mirror is slightly different or the face is blurry.<\/p>\n Mirrors can be found in many European paintings. In a painting done by Diego Velazquez titled, Las Meninas, the viewer is both the watcher and the watched. Pablo Picasso\u2019s Girl Before a Mirror painting is considered one of his masterpieces. The painting has drawn out many interpretations of this portrait of Picasso\u2019s lover and her reflection.<\/p>\n Many artists have used mirrors to hone their craft. With the help of a mirror, Filippo Brunelleschi was able to discover linear perspective<\/a>. Various self-portraits are made possible with the use of a mirror. The popular self-portraits of Rembrandt, Van Gogh <\/span>and Frida Kahlo could not have been painted without the help of a mirror.<\/p>\n Mirrors are commonly used as decorations or an ornaments to enhance the look of a room. Large and unframed mirrors create the illusion of space. They make a room appear larger than it is. This is the reason why it is commonly added to the walls of small rooms and apartments. Vintage Mirrors are considered works of art because of their design and look. They bring added texture into an ordinary surface that is why they are often used as centerpieces.<\/p>\n Mirrors are also used as Christmas ornaments. A bauble is an ornament that is made from a thin metal-coated glass with a decorative reflecting sphere. It works as a reducing wide-angle mirror. Mirrors are also used to create a mosaic which makes a stylish addition to a dull room. You can also check out this article that discusses where you should not hang mirrors<\/a>. We have shared tips and information for decorating using mirrors.<\/p>\n Mirrors play a powerful and symbolic role in cultural literature. In the fairy tale Snow White, the evil queen asks, \u201cMirror, mirror on the wall\u2026 who\u2019s the fairest of them all?\u201d An image appears in the mirror and tells her that she is the fairest of them all. One of the well-loved uses of mirrors in literature is in Lewis Caroll\u2019s Through the Looking-Glass. In Greek Mythology, Narcissus wastes away while gazing and admiring his reflection in the water which is now coined as narcissism.<\/p>\n A novel by Martin Seay titled The Mirror Thief includes a fictional account of industrial espionage that surrounds mirror manufacturing in Venice during the 16th<\/sup> Century. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde tells of a portrait that also serves as a magical mirror and reflects the true fa\u00e7ade of the youthful protagonist and the effect of each sinful act on his soul.<\/p>\n C Pensky shared the video below on her YouTube channel. It discusses the amalgamation of pop culture’s interpretation of the novel Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll. She also talked about the symbolism of the objects in the novel and the movie as well. Check out the video below for more information.<\/p>\n\n\nMirrors for Personal Grooming<\/h2>\n
Mirrors in Arts<\/h2>\n
Mirror as Decorations<\/h2>\n
Mirrors in Literature<\/h2>\n
\u2705 <\/b>Video – Analysis of “Through the Looking Glass” AKA the “Fibonacci Mirror” through Pop Culture + Cinema<\/h3>\n