Trap des ouderdoms 1725 - 1780

Johannes (II) Kannewet's *Trap des ouderdoms* (1725 - 1780) is a woodcut that depicts the stages of human life, from youth to old age. The image is set up as a stepped pyramid, with each level representing a decade of life. The figures on each level are engaged in activities appropriate to their age, such as playing, working, and resting. The pyramid is crowned with a depiction of Heaven, while the base of the pyramid is marked by a coffin, symbolizing death. The image is a commentary on the inevitability of aging and mortality. This print is a visual allegory of the cycle of life and the importance of living a moral and virtuous life, a common theme in the work of Dutch artists from this period.