Youth under the clothing of decrepitude (La jeunesse sous les habillements de la décrépitude) 1751

This 1751 etching by Renée Elizabeth Marlie Lépicié, titled "Youth under the clothing of decrepitude", depicts a young woman in a stately pose, draped in elaborate clothing and holding a walking stick. The artwork captures the fleeting nature of youth, as the woman's youthful features are masked by the heavy drapery, suggesting the passage of time and the inevitable arrival of old age. The figure is set against a backdrop of a garden landscape, enhancing the sense of tranquility and reflection. This print, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Lépicié's skill in depicting the human figure and exploring themes of mortality and the beauty of the natural world.