As soon as he had left, he rushed to the screen and drew it back. No; there was no further change in the picture. It had received the news of Sibyl Vane’s death before he had known of it himself. It was conscious of the events of life as they occurred. The vicious cruelty that marred the fine lines of the mouth had, no doubt, appeared at the very moment that the girl had drunk the poison, whatever it was. Or was it indifferent to results? Did it merely take cognizance of what passed within the soul? He wondered, and hoped that some day he would see the change taking place before his very eyes, shuddering as he hoped it.
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 8. After Lord Henry leaves, Dorian goes to check the portrait again. He finds there is no further change since he learned the news of Sibyl’s death. He thinks that the portrait received the news of the death before he had known it and the vicious cruelty on the mouth had appeared when Sibyl drank the poison. Dorian is fascinated and hopes to see any further change in the picture take place before his eyes.