Take a good look at this:
That is an etching by Pablo Picasso. We saw this piece along with hundreds of others yesterday at an exhibition of his work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This one is part of a set of intaglios entitled Suite 347 that the artist drew between March and October, 1968.
Picasso was almost 87 years of age at the time.
Now, forget about the fact that the subject matter of these 347 etchings was unabashedly erotic. Obviously, old men can continue to be interested in such things (thank goodness!)
What amazed me was the level of creativity that Picasso exhibited in this work.
Look at the quality of the composition, the fineness and steadiness of line. The exquisite confidence shown in every detail. The elegance.
We take for granted that creativity follows a temporal path, like most human prowess. Early adulthood is often seen as its pinnacle.
But there are dramatic examples (like Picasso) of creativity not only continuing into old age but ripening into a type of essential simplicity.
The continuation of creativity is especially interesting as our species finds new ways to extend our life expectancies. Using early 20th century mileposts to delineate our productive lives is already obsolete. Who still believes that 65 is the ideal age to forego a life's work?
While very few of us may possess the talent of a Picasso to produce masterworks like this one into our late 80s, it is clear that setting our sights on the standards set by creative giants is a much worthier goal than seeing ourselves as used up decades earlier.
It also reminds us to choose to spend time in those domains that allow us to fruitfully practice them for a lifetime.
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