Trap des ouderdoms 1832 - 1885

This allegorical print by Rudolph Jacob Schierbeek, created in the 19th century, depicts the ages of man. Dominating the composition is the symbolic staircase, representing the inevitable march of time from infancy to old age and death, a motif that has ancient roots. The ladder or staircase frequently appears as a symbol of progression or decline across cultures. Think of Jacob's Ladder in the Old Testament, linking heaven and earth, or the Buddhist concept of ascending through stages of enlightenment. Here, Schierbeek uses it to create a Memento Mori, a reminder of our mortality. At the base of the staircase rests Father Time with his scythe, a figure that evokes Chronos from Greek mythology. This figure reappears in countless Renaissance paintings. The cyclical nature of time and life is evident here, a visual echo of our collective anxieties about aging and the passing of time, speaking to our deepest fears about the ephemeral nature of existence.