Who is that Person?

For the “Who is that Person” assignment, I chose a portrait of an elderly couple sitting in a room on wooden chairs. I don’t know why I chose this one over the others; I guess I just liked the colors, and it looked like a pleasant setting. When I look at the portrait, the first thing that jumps out at me is the simplicity of the setting. I think this couple has gotten fed-up with the complicated things in life, and they just wanted to get back to basics. Their clothes are quite simple, but it doesn’t look like they are wanting in any way. They look relatively pleased with their lifestyle and are content to just sit in a room and enjoy each other’s company. The woman looks like a very quiet person. She is seated with her hands folded and a slight smile across her face. I think, just by looking at her, she was a stay at home mom. I guess I just get a gentle and loving vibe from her. She doesn’t look necessarily concerned or worried about life. Instead, I would say she is more curious and reflective. Now that her children are grown, she has time to just sit back, relax, and think about her past and the little things in life that she once took for granted, like the tulips to her left, for example. She once may have been full of energy and spunk, but now she is tired and enjoys passing the time in silence and reflection. The man with her (who I assume is her husband, but have no way of knowing) looks like he might be a retired businessman. He is wearing a matching set of pants and a jacket. His face looks very interested as he’s peering into a book. He, like his wife has gotten tired of the hustle and bustle of daily life and now takes pleasure in the little things. His face is not in a smile, nor is it in frown. Rather, it is a feature that suggests that he is wholly devoted to the moment. He could sit there, listen to the ticking of a clock, and look at a book all day, and he would be content. He prefers a good book to a television program any day and likes to ignore modern technology, almost as if he were living in the past. His hair is getting gray and balding in the back, but he doesn’t mind. He has accepted his old age and is embracing the consequences of his age. The couple doesn’t bicker and quarrel like a cliché old couple. Instead, they spend their days in their wooden chairs reading and listening to the sounds of their old house.