The Old-Age Style Introduced: The Issues

Abstract

Creativity of the artistic kind extends well beyond youth and into old age (Part III; Lindauer, 1999). But is there a special kind of artistic creativity in old age? Stated more generally: Can creativity change drastically or be different late in life? Art historians have answered with a qualified “yes,” and point to an old-age style among some artists, which like wisdom, emerges late in life. Unexpected shifts occurred in the techniques, composition, subject matter, and affective tone in the later works, for example, of Cezanne, Goya, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Titian.

With years a richer life begins,

The spirit mellows;

Ripe age gives tone to violins

Wine, and good fellows.

John Townsend TrowbridgeThree Worlds