I Was Young and I Needed the Money

“I Was Young and I Needed the Money”
50 x 70 cm, Acrylic on PVC, 2018

In “I Was Young and I Needed the Money,” the artist revisits a classical scene with a contemporary, critical eye. At first glance, the work appears to capture a Renaissance scene, with a richly dressed old man and a younger woman reaching out with a delicate hand toward a precious-looking box. However, the addition of modern, iconoclastic motifs reveals another dimension to this composition.

The figure of the old man, with his gray beard and fixed gaze, seems captured in an expression of desire or lust. His hands, finely detailed, almost caress the object he holds preciously. This scene is interrupted by contemporary graphic elements that divert and modernize the original imagery. One of these interventions is a pixelated figure that conceals a detail of the painting, a probable reference to digital censorship and objectification in modern media.

A large, flowing blue loop crosses the canvas, like a graffiti that connects or frames the two figures, an artistic intervention that distorts the visual dialogue between the classical figures. This bold curve draws attention and breaks the illusion of an intact past, adding a touch of street art and a sense of rebellion to the work.

In the bottom corner, a small cartoon character carrying a green bag of money with a dollar sign on it adds a humorous dimension, while also emphasizing the theme of money and financial motivations that can underlie relationships that are otherwise perceived as romantic or pure. The title of the work, “I Was Young and I Needed the Money,” suggests a tongue-in-cheek commentary on choices motivated by economic need, perhaps even a nod to the exchange of favors or the compromises one is willing to make based on one’s financial situation.

The artist uses these elements to juxtapose ideas of luxury and greed with contemporary notions of pop culture and capitalism, creating a work that questions not only the value and intention of relationships, but also how money and power continue to influence human dynamics across time. This canvas becomes a rich, multi-dimensional visual dialogue about money, desire, and moral compromise.