Model of a Ladder c. 1850

Petrus van der Loo’s “Model of a Ladder” from c. 1850 is a simple, yet striking, depiction of a wooden ladder. The ladder is presented in a stark, minimalist style, standing alone against a white background. This minimalist approach to representational art is indicative of the trend towards realism in the 19th century, where artists sought to capture the essence of their subject matter in a direct and unadorned way. The use of the ladder as a subject, perhaps a simple object of daily life, also reflects the broader artistic interest in everyday life that was gaining popularity during this period. The piece's dimensions (147 cm x 211 cm x 9.3 cm) suggest a close-up view of the ladder, emphasizing its detailed construction and emphasizing the mundane, everyday nature of the object.