Jakobs ladder 1645 - 1740

Curator: Look at this enchanting print, "Jacob's Ladder," created sometime between 1645 and 1740 by Christoffel van Sichem II, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. It's an engraving depicting Jacob's dream. Editor: It's such a fascinatingly intimate image. Even with the biblical scope, it feels like a fleeting moment captured in ink. The light seems almost…fragile. Curator: It’s amazing what detail Van Sichem was able to achieve. As a visual document, Jacob's ladder has often been viewed as an emblem of spiritual ascent, a visual representation of the connection between heaven and earth. But I see class disparity written into every angel here. What do you make of it? Editor: I see that too, in the implied privilege of access. But for me, the image speaks of the possibility of transcendence despite earthly bounds. I’m struck by the tension between the grounded, almost exhausted figure of Jacob, and the airy lightness of the angels flitting about this rather precarious ladder. Curator: Absolutely, the ladder is such a simple yet potent symbol, right? Considering the religious context of the period, this print might've served as both instruction and inspiration, solidifying specific social or spiritual expectations for ordinary people in the community. Editor: Indeed. It makes me think about the stories we tell ourselves and how those stories dictate our realities and the ways we visualize the possibilities of ascension—both physical and metaphorical. The print isn't just a religious story; it's a political one. Curator: Thinking about it now, that intersection feels central to understanding how a piece like this would be seen in the late Baroque era, in particular in a time that saw social upheaval in Europe, as well as some scientific innovations regarding perspective! I guess in trying to get a hold on God’s ladder to heaven they would seek and secure an edge in politics as well. Editor: A compelling point to end on, showing how this seemingly ancient, religious print still reverberates within today's debates about belief, aspiration, and societal structure. It calls us to investigate both how we seek greater spiritual elevation, and how we perceive our role within hierarchical, ever-shifting societal structures.