Trap des ouderdoms 1848 - 1881

"Trap des ouderdoms" (The Ladder of Old Age) is an 1848-1881 lithograph by Lutkie & Cranenburg, currently in the Rijksmuseum. The artwork depicts a visual allegory of aging, with figures representing different ages placed on stages marked with their corresponding years. The central figure, a winged and bearded figure, represents time, sitting atop a striped platform. This humorous piece, common in the 19th century, aimed to entertain through visual satire on aging and mortality. The image, with its vibrant colors and detailed illustrations, provides a snapshot of social and cultural attitudes towards aging in the Netherlands during this period.