The Ages of Life 1892

Georges Lacombe created this intriguing painting, "The Ages of Life", at the turn of the century. Notice the stark compositional arrangement where figures are organized across the canvas to represent different stages of human existence. The subdued color palette and flattened perspective create a dreamlike, symbolic space, typical of the Symbolist movement. Lacombe uses the forest as a semiotic device, where each grouping of figures acts as a signifier. On the left, a young woman with a child suggests innocence and the beginning of life. The central couple embodies maturity and companionship, while the figure shrouded in blue signifies old age and impending death. The background, filled with dark, looming trees, acts as a constant reminder of mortality. In his work, Lacombe seems to be interested in the cyclical nature of life. By reducing human existence to a series of stylized forms within a simplified space, Lacombe invites us to contemplate the universal themes of time, existence, and the human condition.