Old Age. From the series: The Four Ages of Man 1840 - 1845

"Old Age", painted by Ditlev Blunck between 1840 and 1845, is part of the series "The Four Ages of Man", currently housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst. The painting depicts an elderly man, likely representing the final stage of life, accompanied by figures embodying the past and present. The man, dressed in simple robes, sits in a boat, his weathered face hinting at a lifetime of experiences. A winged cherub, representing youth, sits beside him, reaching towards a youthful man who appears lost in contemplation. A woman draped in flowing robes, perhaps symbolizing the man's wife or life partner, observes the scene with a pensive expression, holding an anchor. The symbolic imagery of the painting, along with its realistic depiction of human emotions, suggests a reflection on the passage of time and the inevitable transition from youth to old age.