Mirrors of surrealism

In surrealist paintings, the mirror rarely served the function it holds in everyday life. It did not reflect but instead became a portal, a passageway. Sometimes, it marked the boundary between what is rational and what the subconscious suggests. Mirrors allowed for the depiction of deeper, often irrational aspects of the human psyche, along with its fears, hidden desires, or obsessions.

The mirror often appeared in surrealist paintings as a symbol of illusion—of something elusive and deceptive. What we see in the mirror seems real, but it is merely a reflection, a copy of reality. Artists like René Magritte used this motif to challenge our perception of the world, suggesting that the reality we know may be only an illusion. A prime example is Magritte’s painting “Not to Be Reproduced”, where a man stands in front of a mirror, but instead of his face, the reflection shows his back. This painting creates confusion about our perception of reality, demonstrating that a mirror can show not what is logical, but what is contrary to the viewer’s expectations.

Surrealists also used the technique of distorting the reflection in the mirror, indicating the subjective perception of reality and how easily it can be manipulated. They undermined reality by presenting absurd images in the mirror, portraying illusions and inventions that depicted something completely different from the scene in front of the mirror.

In famous surrealist paintings, the mirror also served to reveal the inner self of the figure standing before it, often indicating transformation or evolution of the character (as in Salvador Dalí’s painting “Metamorphosis of Narcissus”). Mirrors and their multiple reflections can be employed to uncover the complexity of a person and their psyche. Each reflection can reveal a different layer, showing various traits of a single figure and its intricate nature.

The motif of the mirror, used in various ways and contexts, appeared in the works of many surrealist painters. Besides Salvador Dalí, René Magritte is also worth mentioning. Mirrors are also a significant element in the work of Mariusz Lewandowski. In his paintings, the mirror appeared as part of the composition, along with monumental figures and mystical landscapes. The often dark, melancholic atmosphere of his works created space for reflection on human existence and questions about human nature. Instead of reflecting reality, the mirror became an opening to new, undiscovered spaces. In Lewandowski’s work, the mirror is thus a metaphor for the deeper, often inaccessible mysteries of life, death, and spiritual transcendence. In his paintings, it serves as a medium between the visible world and what is hidden and inexpressible, creating a space for reflection on the most profound existential questions.

See more symbols in Mariusz Lewandowski's surreal paintings at https://www.lewandowski.art/en_US/c/Fine-art-prints/13 or on the Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/mariusz_lewandowskiart/