The Old Woman 1506

Giorgione painted this oil on canvas known as 'The Old Woman', sometime around 1508 in Venice. The open scroll in the sitter's left hand bears the words "col tempo," or "with time," and she gestures toward herself. She is an allegory of time, but also a frank depiction of aging. Consider the social role of this artwork. During the Renaissance, art often served to idealize its subjects, particularly wealthy patrons. By contrast, here is an image of someone who would have been socially marginal. It invites questions: Was this a private commission or a public statement? And what does it say about the status of women in Venetian society at the time? Archives, personal letters, and other historical documents might allow us to better understand the social context of this remarkable artwork.