Trap des ouderdoms 1814 - 1825

This print, Trap des Ouderdoms, or "The Staircase of Old Age," was made by Dirk van Lubeek in the late 18th century using etching and engraving techniques. The print's linear quality comes from the process of incising lines into a metal plate. It relies on the mechanical reproduction of images, a capitalist industry that churned out countless prints for mass consumption. Each figure on the staircase represents a decade of life, from infancy to death at 100. As you move up the staircase, notice the figures' changing postures and possessions, reflecting the era's attitudes toward labor, social class, and the human condition. Lubeek's print blurs the boundaries between fine art and craft. While prints were often considered commercial products, they also served as vehicles for social commentary and artistic expression. Ultimately, this print reminds us that art is always embedded in the material conditions of its making.