Jacob's Ladder

"Jacob's Ladder," created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1655, is a masterful example of the artist's late career prints. Executed using a combination of etching, burin, and drypoint, this technique allowed Rijn to achieve extraordinary depth and rich tonal variations rarely seen in the graphic arts of the Dutch Golden Age. This work dates specifically to the mid-seventeenth century period of 1651 to 1700, a time when Rijn was intensely focused on producing complex and emotionally resonant religious narratives.

The subject illustrates the seminal Old Testament vision from Genesis where the patriarch Jacob, asleep in the wilderness, dreams of a celestial stairway populated by ascending and descending angels. Rijn utilizes drypoint particularly effectively here to create deep, velvety shadows that shroud the sleeping figure and emphasize the dramatic, divine illumination emanating from above. This profound contrast between darkness and ethereal light defines the spiritual power of the composition, drawing the viewer into Jacob's nocturnal revelation. The scene is characterized by the spontaneous lines and subtle gradations of tone that mark Rijn’s mature style.

As a key figure of the Dutch cultural movement, Rijn’s handling of Biblical scenes often prioritizes human emotion and dramatic lighting over classical idealization. This specific print showcases his technical mastery of the medium. This impression of Jacob's Ladder is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, providing crucial context for the study of seventeenth-century European graphic arts. Although the original plates remain protected, high-resolution images of Rijn’s profound prints are widely available for study through public domain initiatives today.