Trapportaal 1834 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print, "Trapportaal," capturing a slice of urban life with striking architectural details. The staircase, a prominent feature, serves as both a physical structure and a symbolic motif. The staircase in Last’s work is more than just a way to ascend; it represents the transitions and passages of life, much like we see in Piranesi's architectural fantasies or even echoed in the symbolic ascents of religious art. Think of Jacob's Ladder, a biblical image of connection between heaven and earth. Staircases can be metaphors for social climbing, spiritual journeys, or simply the everyday navigation of our environments. The open window with a white curtain waving like a sail is a motif that reappears time and time again through art history as a symbol of purity, transparency and freedom. In its essence, it is a silent witness to the inner-state of its inhabitants. This print is not merely a depiction of a place but an echo of shared human experiences and collective memory.