io, 41 anni

It's a self-portrait.
The painter is dressed in black (very simple, so as not to distract from the face). The only gem is a silver ring to replace the place that was faithful. She holds in her hand, near the head, the autumn roses she had collected in her childhood home garden and had donated her for her birthday. They are a bit tired and spooked ... maybe a reminder of the beauty that is aging by aging ... To the fall of life. Perhaps there are other symbols: the same term as "passing time" for hair with silver threads, but still feminine, soft and loose, so light, framing the oval face almost to invoke the veil of Mary (the painter is A teacher of Art History and Madonna has seen her so many) ... and the roses have their thorns, so approaching the face are almost "dangerous" and probably recall the crown of Christ's thorns and the passion just crossed by the author . He shows his wrinkles and palm of hands that he has a lot of creases, so he does not want to look more beautiful than he is, maybe he is happy to see his wrinkles and white hair ... to survive his past. Type a warrior who shows his scars proudly. Look in the eyes of the spectator, sad or perhaps proud, and therefore his would be more a laurel crown than a thorn, a crown of glory.