Oud en nieuw jaar verbeeldt door twee oude mensen en een moeder met kind 1818 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this artwork, whose title translates to 'Old and New Year Depicted by Two Old People and a Mother with Child,' using an unspecified method. Here, we see a symbolic dichotomy: on one side, aged figures by a hearth, representing the past year, while on the other, a mother and child illuminated by an angel signal the new year. The angel, a common motif, is reminiscent of classical depictions of winged victories, bearers of good tidings. However, its appearance shifts across cultures, sometimes transforming into darker figures, reflecting anxieties about the unknown future. This juxtaposition is a visual manifestation of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, who is often depicted with two faces looking to the past and future. This composition evokes a potent emotional response, capturing the universal human experience of time’s passage and the cyclical dance between memory and anticipation. The warmth of new life contrasts with the cold acceptance of aging, engaging viewers on a profound subconscious level.