Trap des ouderdoms 1725 - 1780

"Trap des ouderdoms" (Stairway of Old Age) is an 18th-century engraving by Johannes (II) Kannewet. The artwork depicts a staircase, with each step representing a decade of life, culminating in death. The central archway represents the journey of life, framed by figures representing the stages of human life and biblical quotes. This visual representation of aging, death, and the afterlife was a popular theme in Dutch art during the 17th and 18th centuries, conveying a moral message about the ephemerality of life. The artwork's detail and symbolism offer insights into the cultural values of the time, focusing on the inevitability of mortality and the need for spiritual preparation.