Depictions of Aging in a Self-Portrait by David Bailly (1584-1657)

Abstract

I present a case involving a portrait of David Bailly, containing 2 images portraying changes over a period of ∼40 years, and I compare the facial features that illustrate the aging process. He was 67 years old when he painted "Self-Portraits With Vanitas Symbols" (1651). By juxtaposing past representations with present reality, the painting suggests that the young artist is contemplating his future aging. The young man, appearing so vividly within the painting's immediate reality, actually symbolizes a bygone era Compared with the young portrait, the older portrait exhibits a slightly drooped eyebrow tail, indicative of brow ptosis. In the young portrait, the lid margin is aligned with the upper border of the iris, whereas in the older portrait, it is aligned with the upper border of the pupil. The margin reflex distance 1 decreases with age. In addition, the older portrait shows baggy lower eyelids. The nasojugal groove is more pronounced, and the nasolabial fold is deeper. The beard and mustache are more extensive, and silver strands are interspersed among the black hairs. Presenting 2 images from a 40-year interval, the older portrait exhibits more pronounced signs of facial aging than the younger portrait. Portraits from that era, whether painted by western or eastern artists, demonstrate that the painters had an understanding of facial skin lines and the aging process. The process of creating portraits provides insights into historical contexts and remains significant in contemporary settings, particularly concerning perceptions and identity.

Keywords: Aging; Netherland; art; portraits as topic.