Woman before the Mirror
1914
Ferdinand Schirren captures a fleeting moment in this 1914 expressionist piece, where a woman in a striking blue dress stands before a mirror. Instead of a perfect reflection, we get a splashy, colorful echo of her form in reds and greens, showing how the artist prioritized raw emotion over photographic accuracy. Created just as the world was plunging into World War I, this work feels like a defiant burst of vibrant energy. The loose, watery strokes make the scene feel alive and spontaneous, like a quick sketch of a memory rather than a stiff, formal portrait.