This short course on age/ageing in the visual arts is an attempt to present a theme in art history that has until recently only received scant attention. I want to take on the challenge of looking at how images of old age are variously represented. Aside from portraits, reflecting the ageing process per se (uniquely Rembrandt) what are some of the narratives embedded in illustrations about older people? How does identity and gender reflect the attitudes of a specific period. Are there varying standards for judging the ageing of men and women? Why is the old male invariably idealised? Why is youth and beauty a woman’s ‘only’ worthwhile possession? How are attitudes about age, gender and race rendered by today’s artists? How does our mass media culture deal with the theme of old age? Crucially, when does someone become old? How old is old? Revised repeat of 2024 classes.