Arturo Sanchez

The work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas. There is minor wear and handling to the edges, but the paint layers are well-preserved and stable. Under ultraviolet light inspection there is no evidence of restoration. Unframed, on stretcher.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The soft, warm glow of an incandescent light bathes Arturo Sanchez's Alter Ego in the colors of fall—a fitting palette for a mirror-image portrait of a woman in the autumn of her life. Nostalgic and wistful, the work portrays elderly wisdom and the inescapable yearning for the halcyon days of youth.

Collaged mirrors, hallmarks of any Sanchez work, are more thematically integrated in Alter Ego. The reflective surfaces, shaped into twin semblances of a little girl, bear images from his subject's imagined life. Flashbacks, childhood memories, and unrealized dreams lie frozen, delicately wedged underneath the looking glass.

While the artist has experimented with mirrors extensively, he makes an effort to bring his painting skills to the fore in this piece. The canvas is not merely a frame for his mirrors, but the meat of Alter Ego itself. Age longs for beauty but Sanchez shows that beauty comes with age as well.

-ll