The Man in the Mirror (James 1:23)

To understand this painting, the viewer needs to refer to this passage from the book of James 1:22-24:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

The painting is a self-portrait of the artist looking into a mirror, as indicated by the painted-on frame. The face has been partially obliterated by the text of the warning above, written across the “mirror” and threatening the forgetfulness warned about—namely, self-deception.