Studies van een oude, op een stok leunende vrouw 1808 - 1863

Eugène Delacroix created "Studies van een oude, op een stok leunende vrouw," or "Studies of an old woman leaning on a stick," using pen and brown ink on paper. Delacroix lived through a time of immense social change. The aftermath of the French Revolution and the rise of industrialization deeply affected the lives of ordinary people, especially the elderly. Delacroix's study captures the vulnerability of old age. The woman’s reliance on a walking stick speaks volumes about physical decline. The sketch isn't just about old age; it's about the intersection of gender and age, and how women, particularly in that era, experienced aging differently, often with less social support and visibility. It’s a poignant reminder of how society often overlooks the elderly, particularly women, and the value of seeing and acknowledging their presence.