Nude Study of an Old Man 1878 - 1879

Georges Seurat created this charcoal drawing of an old man sometime before his death in 1891, amidst a cultural backdrop that often marginalized the elderly. This work challenges conventional representations of the nude. Instead of depicting youthful beauty, Seurat confronts viewers with the realities of aging. Here, the male body is rendered with honesty, revealing its physical changes over time. Seurat’s choice of an older model could be seen as a comment on the societal norms that fetishize youth, while ignoring the value and dignity of older individuals. How do you think Seurat felt about the old man he was drawing? How does that come across to you? The drawing invites empathy. By focusing on the human form in its later years, Seurat encourages us to reconsider our attitudes toward aging, and perhaps even to find beauty in the less-celebrated aspects of life. It makes you wonder, how can art help us to expand our understanding of beauty and worth?