The seven ages of dope (1906)

"The Seven Ages of Dope," a strikingly colorful and thought-provoking piece by artist Samuel Ehrhart, was created in 1906. Ehrhart, a notable American cartoonist of the era, often used his art to comment on social issues, and this painting is a vivid chronicle of consumer life and its pitfalls.This illustration, rich in detail and irony, is constructed like a fan displaying various stages of a person's life, each segment colored vividly and packed with activities, products, and social commentary. It portrays the cycle of dependency on manufactured products from cradle to grave.- At the beginning of the fan, a baby is seen being fed by a nurse, surrounded by bottles labeled with various substances like glucose syrup and castor oil, suggesting early exposure to 'dopes' or unnecessary products. - A young boy sits reading adventure stories, engrossed in tales perhaps too fanciful, influenced by the sensationalism of the time. - Here, two young women exchange a box of chocolates amidst cosmetics and soaps, illustrating the burgeoning consumer culture targeting young adults. - A man in soldier's garb drinks from a bottle, possibly alcohol, surrounded by canned and preserved food, highlighting the processed food industry. - Featuring a middle-aged man in a dining setting, this panel shows reliance on various condiments and processed foods, suggesting a life consumed by 'table dopes.