“What does it all mean?” I wonder. Right before us stands Old Man, Young Man, the Future. This sculpture presents a profound statement about life. It also embodies the passage of time. Leonard Baskin created this striking piece. He completed it in 1966. It marked his first major outdoor sculpture.
Old Man, Young Man, the Future was commissioned for the Society Hill Towers complex. The Redevelopment Authority’s Percent for Art program funded it. This program set aside a percentage of construction costs for public art. Philadelphia was the first in the nation to do this. Now, over 300 works have been commissioned.
Look closely at Old Man, Young Man, the Future. You will see a seated older man and a standing young man. They confront a winged creature. Baskin said this mythical bird represents external reality. He noted it is both “good and bad, promising and ominous”. The artist called himself a “moral realist.”
Baskin criticized nonfigurative art. He saw it as “an art of cowardice”. He felt it was a waste of talent. For Baskin, art’s greatest goal was to convey human experience. He believed the human figure represents all people. It expresses everything. The Society Hill Towers were designed by I. M. Pei. They were a landmark in Philadelphia’s urban renewal. Old Man, Young Man, the Future enhances this space. It gives it deeper meaning. It makes you think. It makes you feel.
Consider the figures’ expressions. What do they suggest? The old man appears contemplative. The young man seems ready to face the future. The winged creature hovers above. It symbolizes the unknown. Baskin wanted to explore these themes. He aimed to create a piece that resonates with viewers. Old Man, Young Man, the Future achieves this.
The sculpture invites us to reflect on our own lives. We ponder our past, present, and future. What will we make of our time? How will we confront the challenges ahead? These are the questions Baskin poses with Old Man, Young Man, the Future. It is more than just a sculpture. It is an invitation to contemplate. It asks about the human condition.