Article September 12, 2016 Issue

Our worth never depreciates

Annette Dutenhoffer

Have you ever felt that others were determining your value and worth to society based on your age? Many have probably felt that way at one time or another, but I recently read about a woman who has so clearly proved that her talent has nothing to do with her years. Cuban-American abstract artist, Carmen Herrera, who had been painting for more than six decades, sold her first painting at the age of 89. Shortly after, more of her paintings sold. Now her artwork is in collections in many different countries. You could say the value of her contribution to the world has only appreciated over time.

Sadly, though, this isn’t always the norm. Now, and throughout history, growing older often symbolizes depreciation of value in the eyes of the world.

For example, the book of Leviticus indicates that in Bible times, if a person wanted to make a vow to God, he could offer himself or another to God by paying the sanctuary a monetary equivalent of the person’s predetermined value. Leviticus 27:3–8 lists the values of men, women, and children based on their age. Males between the years of twenty and sixty are listed as the highest valued group at fifty silver shekels per male. But females over sixty are one of the least valued groups, each woman being worth a mere ten shekels each.

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