I always saw the 'portrait in the back room' as being a mirror. He's staring at himself and being unable to recognize himself anymore after all the abuse and stress he's putting himself through taking care of this girl who seems to have serious issues (alcohol? drugs?). Yet he can't pull himself away, no matter what his friends advise him to do, he's still falling for her and with her into her own pit of despair.
I always saw the 'portrait in the back room' as being a mirror. He's staring at himself and being unable to recognize himself anymore after all the abuse and stress he's putting himself through taking care of this girl who seems to have serious issues (alcohol? drugs?). Yet he can't pull himself away, no matter what his friends advise him to do, he's still falling for her and with her into her own pit of despair.