Then I thought:
What would a perfectly reflecting sphere look like?
... defined only by the reflections in it.
Mathematically it is not difficult...
Define an eye point... a picture plane at a certain distance...
a sphere of a certain size in a certain place...
an object as a set of points.... say, a star... at one point
Minimize the path length from the star
to the surface of the sphere... and then to the eye.
Note where the path passes through the picture plane.
Put the star's reflection there.
Today it is packaged... The Magritte sketch is essentially this
and really good bookkeeping.
Here you see the reflection of the horizon behind the observer...
the shadow of the sphere cast by the light of a star just behind it...
the reflection of that shadow in the sphere.
but you don't see the observer... you don't see yourself.
This was not some Magrittian intent to invoke mystery.
It was a simple fear of screwing up.
Drawing the human figure is difficult... at least for me.
I couldn't risk all of my effort by adding some poor cartoon.
So I never put myself into the picture.
I would today... with inkjet prints instead of canvas.
If I didn't get it quite right on the first try... then
erase that file... try again... no great loss.
Does this make such an image worth less these days?
Perhaps...