Old Man Opening A Can

by Michael R Hayter · Bristol, GB

This drawing came about after a visit to my elderly father who was recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia. He had lost much weight and it was a shock to see him so diminished. However, his spirit seemed to be as strong as ever and I was struck by the incongruity between his physical appearance and his enduring personality. Thus, in this stark image, the old man struggles physically to open a can of food, a glass of plain water in front of him and the clock ticking behind him - depicting the stripping away that occurs with age to the bare essentials of existence. I like to think of this piece as a depiction of the enduring and indomitable spirit of the individual.