The Seven Ages Of Woman 1544

Hans Baldung painted this image of female life stages sometime in the first half of the 16th century. It presents an allegorical view of womanhood, one which would have been very familiar in Northern Europe at this time. Baldung’s image reminds us that the social conditions that shape artistic production also shape the lives of people. What we see here is a conservative rendering of women as wives and mothers that, to modern eyes, can seem to be a cold and somewhat pessimistic view. However, it can also be interpreted as a reflection of the artist’s religious beliefs. To study this image further, it would be helpful to examine the period’s literature and popular imagery. By placing art in its historical context, we see how it is contingent on social and institutional forces. We can then better understand its place in the history of cultural change.