Oude man en een courtisane c. 1590 - 1595

Agostino Carracci etched this scene of an old man and a courtesan some time before 1602. Here, we witness a timeless motif: the dance between age and youth, desire and decay. Note the cupid, the god of love himself, aiming his arrow not with the passion we might expect, but with a book under his arm, a symbol of reason or perhaps even calculation, seemingly guiding the encounter. This image echoes through the ages, reminiscent of the medieval allegories of the "Ages of Man," where youth and age confront each other, each seeking something from the other. Consider how the image of Cupid, often a symbol of reckless abandon, is here tempered by intellect. Such imagery is a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Like a recurring dream, this dynamic resurfaces, evolving, taking on new meanings as it reflects the anxieties and aspirations of each age.