The ages of man 1594 - 1678

Salomon Savery created this engraving, "The Ages of Man," sometime in the 17th century. The print, organized as a kind of stage or staircase, invites us to consider the structure of human life as a series of ascents and inevitable descents. Visually, the figures are arranged in a clear, hierarchical order, emphasizing the progression of life stages. Savery uses line and form to create distinct characterizations, from the active poses of youth to the stooped postures of old age. This structured composition reinforces the theme of life's predictable stages, yet the chaotic scenes below destabilize this order. Here, depictions of death and folly undermine any sense of controlled progression. Savery uses the formal structure of the staircase to present a commentary on mortality and moral decline. The artwork asks us to reflect on the cyclical nature of human existence and the interplay between order and chaos in our lives.