Droom van Jacob 1530 - 1533

This small, anonymous print at the Rijksmuseum depicts Jacob's dream, a profound vision from the Book of Genesis. Here, the dominant symbol is the ladder, reaching up to the heavens, with angels ascending and descending. This motif speaks to the connection between the earthly and the divine. We find echoes of this image in other times and places. The ladder reminds me of the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia, artificial mountains built to bring humans closer to the gods. Similarly, the stairway appears in numerous myths as a bridge between worlds, from shamanic traditions to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Consider how this symbol has evolved. Initially, perhaps, a simple means of ascent, it becomes laden with spiritual and psychological significance. Subconsciously, the ladder might represent our aspirations, our striving for something beyond ourselves, a bridge to transcendence. The emotions evoked—hope, yearning, the possibility of divine encounter—engage us on a deep, subconscious level. This is the cyclical progression of symbols: arising from basic human needs and experiences, they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across history.