Jacob's ladder after 1655

Salomon Italia made this etching of Jacob's Ladder sometime in the mid-17th century. This tiny image visualizes a moment from the Book of Genesis in which Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching into heaven, populated by angels ascending and descending. Italia was a Jewish artist working in Amsterdam, a city then known for its religious tolerance, which in turn fostered a flourishing print market catering to diverse beliefs. The image's visual codes—the ladder, the angels, the sleeping Jacob—derive from Christian artistic traditions, revealing the cross-cultural exchange characteristic of the period. The etching's fine lines and small scale suggest it was likely intended for personal contemplation, perhaps within a devotional book. Understanding this artwork requires attention to the religious, social, and economic conditions of 17th-century Amsterdam. Scholars consult period books, prints, and archival records to reconstruct the world in which Italia lived and worked, which helps us understand the impact of this work. Only then can we begin to appreciate the complex layers of meaning embedded in this small, yet evocative image.