Trappen 1726 - 1750

This print by Reinier and Josua Ottens presents a series of allegorical scenes, each depicting figures atop a tiered structure. These scenes are laden with symbols familiar throughout art history: Justice with her scales, Faith holding a cross, and other virtues. The recurring motif of the tiered structure is fascinating. We see such formations in ancient Mesopotamian ziggurats, acting as a bridge between the earthly and the divine. Consider the Tower of Babel, an ambitious architectural endeavor that symbolizes humanity's desire to ascend to the heavens. The symbolism evolves, yet the underlying psychological impulse remains. These images tap into our collective memory, a subconscious desire to order the world, to ascend, and to understand our place within a cosmic hierarchy. These allegorical figures and architectural settings aren't merely illustrations; they are vessels of human longing, a visual echo resonating across centuries.