Would you know your own appearance, if not for portraits or a mirror?
How do you know if what you see is truly yourself?
You assume that what you see is real, because you can verify countless other examples.
And so, you trust the portrait. And you trust the mirror.
You let the mirror show you yourself.
A portrait is you, in one moment; maybe embellished, but faithful.
Portraits can capture expression and feelings, answer questions or create them, and tell a story.
But the truth is...
...not all mirrors tell the truth.
Not all seen is a reflection.
But it is all real.
And it is the truth.
And sometimes, the truth kills.