Illustration in Jérôme Paturot, by Louis Reybaud, Paris, 1846 1841 - 1851

This pen and ink wash drawing by J. J. Grandville, created in Paris in 1846, is an illustration for Louis Reybaud's novel "Jérôme Paturot." It depicts a man climbing a ladder towards a radiant cloud, with each rung adorned with symbols of worldly ambition and intellectual pursuit. The ladder, an ancient symbol, is reminiscent of Jacob's Ladder, representing a connection between earth and the divine. Yet, here, it is juxtaposed with objects of vanity - hats, awards, and books. Notice how the light at the top of the ladder, usually a sign of enlightenment, is presented as a storm cloud - the divine as unattainable, or even destructive, for someone so absorbed in earthly pursuits. The feather, held by the climber, might remind us of the classical symbol of Ma'at, goddess of truth, that was used to weigh the hearts of the dead, and how the climber risks falling if he loses balance by holding it in his hand, emphasizing the precariousness of his journey. These motifs recur throughout history, from Renaissance allegories of virtue to contemporary critiques of consumer culture. There is a cyclical element present in the way these aspirations are represented; they re-emerge, shift, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.