Portrait of an Old Man with an Onion 1615

This is Jusepe de Ribera's painting, "Portrait of an Old Man with an Onion." The peeling of the onion—a simple act, yet potent—it suggests a stripping away of layers, much like the unveiling of truth. The onion itself, humble and common, possesses a sharp, pungent quality, a dual nature that mirrors the complexities of human existence. Consider the recurring motif of the 'wise old man' throughout art history. Often, figures like these are depicted holding simple objects, each one laden with meaning. The onion, in this context, is far more than mere sustenance; it is a symbol of life's bittersweet essence. In ancient lore, onions were believed to have medicinal and protective properties, used in rituals to ward off illness and evil. The act of peeling is thus a purging, a cleansing, a gesture of resilience against life’s hardships. It reminds us that beneath the surface, universal truths endure, echoing across time and culture in an endless dance of symbolic representation.