Comments

The painting depicts a wealthy and successful lady who devoted her entire life to her career, chasing money and fashion. We can see this in her clothing and in her stern expression. However, when she has acquired everything she was pursuing, at an age where she reflects on her life, she realizes with a sense of melancholy, evident in her eyes, that she has missed what is most important: time for living. In reality, she has not lived the life she wanted, but rather the one that defined her status in society. She was afraid of what others would think of her, that she would appear to be a failure, and other socially unacceptable things. Realizing all this makes her feel despondent. This painting conveys the message that one should not chase after something superficial; instead, one should live life regardless of status, constraints, and templates. Living one’s own life is what will bring the happiness that everyone seeks. Life is given only once!