it's a really well done piece. the mirror and sink being so small and crowded with hygiene products; the hand on the wall behind the mirror, making the framing tighter still. it creates a wild sense of claustrophobia on the right side. the left side is slightly more open, but draws our eyes to the picture of the young boy smiling and all the symbolic relevance of that simpler life is contrasted by the claustrophobic present. the expression of the man isn't necessarily bleak or emotional, just the day to day expression we all wear.
I think we're used to "man I'm older" pieces explicitly spelling out the thoughts and emotions the artist has with the concept and without that, it's hard to tell how the man feels about it. that with the framing of everything is what gives that empty discomfort - at least for me.
It plays with a lot of different depths and angles, bounces back and forth from several different directions simultaneously. It really is a virtuoso performance.
Something in his expression and his eyes, too. He looks haggard like he’s just lived a lot of life, probably not all good and not all bad.
Yup, this feels like brushing my teeth in the mirror alone at 39, the man knows his stuff.
