Trap des Levens 1642 - 1665

"Trap des Levens" (Stairway of Life) is a 17th-century etching by Dutch artist Pieter Nolpe, housed at the Rijksmuseum. This intricate allegorical print illustrates the stages of human life, from infancy to death. Nolpe depicts a series of figures ascending a staircase, each symbolizing a different stage, with the top symbolizing Heaven. The lower portion shows scenes of mortality and the finality of death, highlighting the contrasting themes of life and death, which are intertwined in this depiction. This piece was widely appreciated in its time for its detailed portrayal of the human condition.