Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder by Rembrandt van Rijn, dated 1655, is a profound example of the artist’s mastery of the print medium during his later career. This compelling impression, classified specifically as the second of four states, was executed using a combination of etching, engraving, and dry point. Rembrandt utilizes these varying techniques to achieve deep, rich contrasts and atmospheric effects, perfectly suiting the narrative drawn from the Book of Genesis (28:10-19). The scene depicts the sleeping patriarch Jacob, who dreams of a connection between Heaven and Earth.

The central composition focuses on Jacob, one of the key men in the Biblical narrative, resting in a darkened, atmospheric landscape. A radiant beam of divine light illuminates the titular ladder, upon which angelic figures ascend and descend between the earthly realm and the heavens. Rembrandt’s skillful application of dry point creates a velvety burr around the figures, enhancing the ethereal quality of the celestial visitation and emphasizing the vertical reach of the ladder into the void. This piece exemplifies the dramatic lighting and emotional depth for which the artist is renowned.

Examining this particular state reveals the subtle adjustments Rembrandt made to the plates as he developed the image, offering insight into his iterative process in refining the lighting and spatial relationships. Today, many high-resolution prints of this seventeenth-century Dutch masterwork are widely available through public domain initiatives, allowing broader study of Rembrandt’s influential graphic output. As a crucial example of northern European Baroque art, the work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as an important resource for understanding Rembrandt’s approach to spiritual subjects and the technical evolution of his Jacob's Ladder prints.