The Seven Ages of Man- Second Childishness, ‘As You Like It’, II/VII Robert Smirke (1752-1845)

The composition presents a domestic interior, suffused with a warm, muted light that contributes to a sense of intimacy and melancholy. A seated elderly man dominates the right side of the scene; his posture suggests weariness and resignation. He is enveloped in a heavy cloak, indicative perhaps of both physical discomfort and a desire for protection from the world. His face, deeply etched with wrinkles, conveys a profound understanding of time’s passage.
To his left sits a woman in an armchair, her expression one of quiet contemplation or perhaps gentle sadness. A young boy is positioned at her feet, engrossed in play; he appears oblivious to the gravity of the situation unfolding around him. The contrast between the youthful energy of the child and the aged fragility of the man immediately establishes a central thematic tension: the cyclical nature of human existence.
The artist has placed several objects within the scene that add layers of meaning. A small pile of toys lies scattered on the floor near the boy, symbolizing lost innocence and fleeting childhood joys. Behind the seated figures, a chest of drawers holds various items – a glass bottle, a candlestick – suggesting domesticity but also hinting at the accumulation of possessions over a lifetime. The presence of framed pictures on the walls further reinforces this sense of history and memory; they act as visual anchors to past experiences.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing earth tones – browns, ochres, and muted greens – which contribute to the overall somber mood. The limited range of colors emphasizes the passage of time and the inevitability of decline. The composition’s arrangement – the old man facing away from the viewer, the child absorbed in play, the woman observing with a quiet sadness – creates a sense of narrative depth, inviting reflection on the stages of life and the poignant beauty of human experience. There is an underlying feeling of acceptance, not despair, as if acknowledging the natural order of things.