The central focus of this monochromatic lithograph is a human hand holding a spherical, reflective object. Inside the glass sphere, a distorted, wide-angle self-portrait is visible. The artist, depicted with glasses and a beard, is seated in a comfortable chair within a room that appears to wrap around the curvature of the globe. The perspective inside the sphere shows bookshelves lining the upper wall, a window casting soft light, and various furnishings including chairs and tables, all rendered with intricate, swirling linework that emphasizes the spherical distortion.
The hand holding the sphere is positioned at the bottom of the composition, rendered with careful attention to anatomy, shading, and texture. The skin of the fingers and palm shows subtle creases and highlights, creating a tactile contrast to the smoothness of the glass sphere it supports. The background is a stark, textured field of dark grey, which makes the luminous sphere and the light-toned skin of the hand stand out prominently.
The artwork is executed in a highly detailed, realistic illustration style reminiscent of classic technical drawings. By using varying densities of fine ink strokes and stippling, the image achieves a full range of values from deep shadows to bright highlights. The composition is circular and balanced, drawing the viewer's eye into the center of the sphere, where the artist's intense gaze seems to bridge the gap between the internal world of the reflection and the external reality of the viewer.