Gezicht op het oude stadhuis te Rotterdam c. 1696 - 1730

This etching of the old City Hall in Rotterdam was created by Jacobus Harrewijn. Dominating the scene is the grand staircase leading to the building's entrance. A similar motif can be observed in ancient ziggurats, and the temples of Egypt and Rome. The staircase symbolizes access to power. It’s an architectural motif, repeated throughout history and art. We find echoes of this in Renaissance palaces and even modern courthouses. The act of ascending these steps is a ritual, a physical representation of social climbing and of bridging the gap between the earthly and the divine. Looking at this staircase, one might remember the Biblical Jacob's Ladder, or even the Tower of Babel, each a symbolic attempt to touch the heavens. The staircase is not merely functional; it is a potent, recurring symbol deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness.