Zwarte schoorsteenveger met een ladder 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch created this print of a chimney sweeper with a ladder using etching. The ladder is the main symbol here, traditionally representing ascent or connection between earth and the heavens. Now, observe how this motif echoes across cultures. Think of Jacob's Ladder in the Bible, a divine link between earthly and celestial realms. Here, in Weissenbruch's image, the ladder is repurposed, secularized. It facilitates a more mundane, yet essential, societal task. But perhaps, subconsciously, there remains a link to the idea of transcendence, of reaching beyond the everyday. The chimney sweeper himself is an interesting figure. Often associated with good luck, his dark figure against the urban landscape evokes a sense of navigating the shadows, cleaning away the grime and allowing light to enter. He becomes a conduit, a worker who maintains societal well-being, subtly echoing the symbolism of cleansing and renewal found in more overtly religious contexts. The symbols reappear, transformed yet resonant.