Old Man and a Girl. Ca 1545 ‒ 1600. Original ca 1545 ‒ 1568. Woodcut

One of the beloved themes of the Renaissance was the unequal love of partners separated by a large age difference. This enabled an artistically exciting contrast to be created between an old man and young woman (or vice versa). It also provided an opportunity for moralising, jesting and adding a bit of erotic spice to events.
The work is a copy of Jacob Lucius the Elder’s engraving, which was one of a pair. In this picture, the young woman is allowing the old man to touch her, while she is stealing money from his bag. In the other work, an old woman is hugging a young man, who is also taking his reward. Therefore, inevitably, unequal love is always expensive!

Jacob Lucius the Elder, the author of the engraving that served as the example, was a German artist and printer of books. He worked in Wittenburg, where he drew samples for woodcuts. Later he moved to Rostock and printed books for the university there.