--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Michelangelo was an old man, he drew…" description: "\"When Michelangelo was an old man, he drew himself sitting in a child's pushcart.\" — Kathe Kollwitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/kathe-kollwitz-16802_artist_when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew_3226238.png" --- # When Michelangelo was an old man, he drew himself sitting… ![“When Michelangelo was an old man, he drew himself sitting in a child's pushcart.” quote by Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/kathe-kollwitz-16802_artist_when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew_3226238.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/kathe-kollwitz-16802_artist_when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew_3226238.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/kathe-kollwitz-16802_artist_when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew_3226238.png) > “When Michelangelo was an old man, he drew himself sitting in a child's pushcart.” [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on aging artists returning to childlike simplicity, finding freedom in humble, playful self‑portraits. **In simple terms:** Aging artists may seek childlike simplicity. Key Takeaway Embrace playful self‑expression. Themes age creativity humility Mood reflective gentle Type inspirational contemplative When to use this quote - artist retrospectives - personal reflection - creative workshops - mental health therapy Key Concepts self‑portraiture nostalgia identity Questions to Reflect On - What does the pushcart symbolize for you? - How can playfulness combat creative stagnation? A Different Perspective Nostalgia may overlook practical challenges of aging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) ## Related quotes > [If something becomes old-fashioned, it was no good to start with. Think about it. Michelangelo is not old-fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/if-something-becomes-old-fashioned-it-was-no-good-to-start-with-think/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [As much preparation as I had made for the old man Salieri, gestures and so on, the fact is after sitting for hours, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-murray-abraham/as-much-preparation-as-i-had-made-for-the-old-man-salieri-gestures/) [F. Murray Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-murray-abraham/) > [ One day he \[Wagner\] was batting against a young pitcher who had just come into the league. The catcher was a kid, too .… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burleigh-grimes/one-day-he-wagner-was-batting-against-a-young-pitcher-who-had-just/) [Burleigh Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burleigh-grimes/) > [“Michelangelo’s mistakes, frozen within testimony of concrete—what they suggest is that mistakes are, first and foremost, a by-product of the pursuit of excellence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-harmon/michelangelo-s-mistakes-frozen-within-testimony-of-concrete-what-they/) James L. Harmon > [We are the clay, and you are Michelangelo. And we will be your masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/we-are-the-clay-and-you-are-michelangelo-and-we-will-be-your/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Tintoretto attempted to fill the line of Michelangelo with color, without tracing its principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fuseli/tintoretto-attempted-to-fill-the-line-of-michelangelo-with-color/) [Henry Fuseli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fuseli/) > [Even Michelangelo got paid for doing the Sistine Chapel. To those artists who say they're doing it for the love of art, I say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-versace/even-michelangelo-got-paid-for-doing-the-sistine-chapel-to-those/) [Gianni Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianni-versace/) > [“How to maintain the proper mood and not bore the congregation to sleep? Art was the answer. But not just pretty pictures that required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-blech/how-to-maintain-the-proper-mood-and-not-bore-the-congregation-to/) [Benjamin Blech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-blech/) > [Michelangelo indeed could have carved out your features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/michelangelo-indeed-could-have-carved-out-your-features/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Like Michelangelo spending eight months in the mountains of Carrara, selecting the most perfect blocks of marble for the tomb of Pope Julius II,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/like-michelangelo-spending-eight-months-in-the-mountains-of-carrara/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“In the case of Michel Angelo we have an artist who with brush and chisel portrayed literally thousands of human forms; but with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-carpenter/in-the-case-of-michel-angelo-we-have-an-artist-who-with-brush-and/) [Edward Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-carpenter/) > [When they asked Michelangelo how he made his statue of David he is reported to have said, "It is easy. You just chip away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/when-they-asked-michelangelo-how-he-made-his-statue-of-david-he-is/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Don't listen to those who say, you taking too big a chance. Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/don-t-listen-to-those-who-say-you-taking-too-big-a-chance/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [If we now seek the spiritual significance of the technique of Michelangelo we shall find that his sculpture expressed restless energy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auguste-rodin/if-we-now-seek-the-spiritual-significance-of-the-technique-of/) [Auguste Rodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auguste-rodin/) > [“To Giovanni da Pistoia Michelangelo, translated from the Italian by Joel Agee \| 144 words (On painting the vault of the Sistine Chapel) 1509…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-giovanni-da-pistoia-michelangelo-translated-from-the-italian-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kathe Kollwitz > [To this day I do not know whether the power which has inspired my works is something related to religion, or is indeed religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/to-this-day-i-do-not-know-whether-the-power-which-has-inspired-my/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [My work is not, of course, pure art in the sense that Schmidt-Rottluff's is, but it is art nonetheless... It is all right with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/my-work-is-not-of-course-pure-art-in-the-sense-that-schmidt-rottluff/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [Look at life with the eyes of a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/look-at-life-with-the-eyes-of-a-child/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [How long were the stretches of toilsome tacking back and forth, of being blocked, of being thrown back again and again. But all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/how-long-were-the-stretches-of-toilsome-tacking-back-and-forth-of/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [For the last third of life there remains only work. It alone isalways stimulating, rejuvenating, exciting and satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/for-the-last-third-of-life-there-remains-only-work-it-alone-isalways/) [Käthe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [There are moments on most days when I feel a deep and sincere gratitude, when I sit at the open window, and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/there-are-moments-on-most-days-when-i-feel-a-deep-and-sincere/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [I thought I was a revolutionary and was only an evolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/i-thought-i-was-a-revolutionary-and-was-only-an-evolutionary/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [One day, a new ideal will arise, and there will be an end to all wars. I die convinced of this. It will need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/one-day-a-new-ideal-will-arise-and-there-will-be-an-end-to-all-wars-i/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [I have never been able to carry out any work coolly. On the contrary it is done, so to speak, with my own blood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/i-have-never-been-able-to-carry-out-any-work-coolly-on-the-contrary/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [While I drew, and wept along with the terrified children I was drawing, I really felt the burden I am bearing. I felt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/while-i-drew-and-wept-along-with-the-terrified-children-i-was-drawing/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [Recently I began reading my old diaries. Back to before the war. Gradually I became very depressed. The reason for that is probably that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/recently-i-began-reading-my-old-diaries-back-to-before-the-war/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [As in everything else, I find that age is not good for much, that one becomes deafer and less sensitive. Also, the higher up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/as-in-everything-else-i-find-that-age-is-not-good-for-much-that-one/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [I can always paint very well with my eyes, but with my hands it doesn't always work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/i-can-always-paint-very-well-with-my-eyes-but-with-my-hands-it-doesn/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [Where do all the women who have watched so carefully over the lives of their beloved ones get the heroism to send them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/where-do-all-the-women-who-have-watched-so-carefully-over-the-lives/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [Pacifism simply is not a matter of calm looking on; it is work, hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/pacifism-simply-is-not-a-matter-of-calm-looking-on-it-is-work-hard/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) [Explore all 39 Kathe Kollwitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Michelangelo was an old man, he drew himself sitting in a child's pushcart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kathe Kollwitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew-himself-sitting-in-a-child-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew-himself-sitting-in-a-child-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/kathe-kollwitz-16802_artist_when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew_3226238.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/kathe-kollwitz-16802_artist_when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew_3226238.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/kathe-kollwitz-16802_artist_when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew_3226238.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When Michelangelo was an old man, he drew himself sitting in a child's pushcart.” — Kathe Kollwitz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kathe Kollwitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When Michelangelo was an old man,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew-himself-sitting-in-a-child-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/when-michelangelo-was-an-old-man-he-drew-himself-sitting-in-a-child-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```