Banknote vignette with figures of different ages, representing the stages of life 1819 - 1837

Asher Brown Durand made this banknote vignette depicting figures of different ages, representing the stages of life, as an engraving. Engravings like this circulated widely in 19th-century America, embodying and shaping the era’s cultural values and beliefs about progress, family, and the individual’s place within society. Durand’s image stages the life cycle from infancy to old age. It invites us to contemplate the values associated with each phase. How does Durand suggest that the journey from childhood to adulthood is intertwined with themes of labor, love, and legacy? The nuclear family are centrally placed in the image, and figures of children and adolescents are engaged in different activities, hinting at education, work, and play. Further along, we see an older couple. Are they reading a book or the Bible? As you stand here, consider how Durand's vignette reflects and shapes societal views on aging, and how the cycle of life depicted invites us to consider the marks we leave on the world.