Afwijzing van een oude man

A bearded old man leans forward with an eager expression to kiss a young woman, who looks toward the viewer with a skeptical smirk. Her hand is placed firmly against his shoulder to keep him at a distance, illustrating the theme of 'unequal love.' The scene takes place in a domestic interior with a woven basket on the floor and a bed visible in the background.

This work exemplifies the 'unequal lovers' (Gelijk en Ongelijk) trope popular in 16th-century Northern European art, which satirized the folly of old age pursuing youth. It relates to broader moral philosophical concerns regarding the 'ages of man' and the importance of acting according to one's station and temperament.