William Mortensens "The Seven Ages of Woman"

William Mortensen's "The Seven Ages of Woman"

All images are silver prints from the original work by William Mortensen and all captions are his.

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"The Seven Ages of Woman"

"The Book of Life. Seven pages of Futility — of which only two things are certain — the beginning — and — the end"

William Mortensens The Seven Ages of Woman. All the worlds a stage and all the men and women merely players

"All the worlds a stage: and all the men and women… merely players, they have their exits and their entrances: And one woman in her time play many parts… her acts being seven ages — At first the infant mewling… and puking in its little crib…"

William Mortensens The Seven Ages of Woman. The whining school girl with her satchel

"Then the whining schoolgirl with her satchel and shining morning face bashful to the glance yet bold in tom-boy escapades"

William Mortensens The Seven Ages of Woman. The sweetheart filled with odd impulsive longings, heralding love.

"And then the sweetheart… filled with odd impulsive longings, heralding love. Sugary hopes, and all the stuff of sweet sixteen — Alternating gloom and joy — with fresh young lips a tremble for a lover's kiss."

William Mortensens The Seven Ages of Woman. The debutante, serene and self-composed. The Enviable one derided at teas and discuss'd at clubs commanding sybil of all the arts.

"Then the débutante – serene and self–composed. The enviable one – derided at teas – discuss'd at clubs commanding sybil of all the arts…"

William Mortensens The Seven Ages of Woman. And then the mother, in blissful contemplation of her cherished hope... Sweet humber seed of all life's precious goods.

"And then the mother, in blissful contemplation of her cherished hope… Sweet, humble seed of all life's precious goods. And so she plays her part…"

William Mortensens The Seven Ages of Woman. The sixth age shifts into the lean and shrunken grandma with warning look and staying hand to all the newer generation. Her hair once golden and her lips so choice turns a desolate gray and from the shrivelled lips a voice that pips and whistles in her sound

"The sixth age shifts into the lean and shrunken grandma with warning look and staying hand to all the newer generation. Her hair once golden and her lips so choice turns a desolate gray and from the shrivelled lips a voice that pipes and whistles in her sound…"

William Mortensens The Seven Ages of Woman. Last scen of all that ends this strange, eventful history is second childishness and mere oblivion.. sans teet... sans eyes... sans everything...

"Last scene of all that ends this strange, eventful history is second childishness and mere oblivion – sans teeth – sans eyes – sans everything…"