Beyond The Mirror:An Emotional Experience In The Creation Of Watermark Woodblock Prints

The mirror element is widely used in art creation to express the inner world.The appearance of a mirror in a painting adds a lot of mystery and metaphorical meaning to the work.Mirrors can reflect the image of an object due to their smooth surface,but the image in the mirror is not a real thing,hence the phrase "an illusion".The metaphorical nature of mirror images is similar to the indirectness of printmaking.As a unique creative symbol,the mirror image not only appears in the viewer’s field of vision as a prop,but also guides the viewer’s gaze,reflects the relationships between objects,and embodies the interest of the picture.By using mirrors to generate images and different scenes outside the mirror,the artist can express their ideas and emotional experiences in their artwork.The main theme of this article is to explore the emotional experience of using mirrors in artistic creation from the perspective of the creator,taking the mirror image as the starting point from the visual arts perspective.By studying Lacan’s mirror theory and the mirror metaphor,the article interprets the thoughts and emotions of the artist using the mirror image in printmaking to reflect on the relationship between the picture and the "other" outside of the picture.Through the integration of learning and exploration of mirror theory in creation,the article explores the relationship between the virtual and the real presented by the mirror metaphor and its symbolic meaning,expressing the connection between illusion and reality between mirrors and reality,and providing a deeper understanding of the role and metaphor of mirrors in artworks.By utilizing the multiple meanings of the mirror symbol in printmaking,the article attempts to trigger infinite resonance in viewers’ thoughts and emotions regarding themselves and others through the artworks.