Trap des ouderdoms c. 1782 - 1793

*"Trap des Ouderdoms"* is a Dutch broadside printed in the late 18th century by the widow of Jeronimus Ratelband. The print depicts a symbolic representation of the stages of life, with figures ascending a staircase towards death. At the top, a figure representing death stands above, while a coffin sits at the bottom. The print's text emphasizes the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death, with verses like "Walt d'erne zott en b'ander bang," ("Some are foolish, and others afraid"). The image uses visual metaphors to communicate the theme of mortality, a common topic in Dutch art of the time. This print was likely intended for a general audience, providing a sober reflection on the passage of time and the cycle of life.