Jacob’s Dream and the Ladder to the Self

In reviewing art and dreams from the Bible, the dream of Jacob’s Ladder is overwhelmingly the most popular subject.


I find this dream (and the paintings) to be quite archetypal, to be illustrative of what dreams (at their best)can be about — the ladder to the Self.

Nuremberg Bible, German School. Hand Coloured Woodblock print.

15th Century

Cathedral, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Anonymous French painter, 16th Century
Canvas.
Musee du Petit Palais, Paris, France

Adam Elsheimer (1578-1610

Bartolome Esteban Murillo

Hermitage Museum
Oil on canvas.
246×360 cm

Episcopal palace in Udine
Tiepolo (1726-1729)

Gustave Doré, 1832-1883

Marc Chagall, 1973
Oil on canvas. 73 x 92
Private collection.

The artist I studied is Georgia O’Keeffee. My favorite painting by that artist is called “Summer Days”. I created my own painting inspired by this art–I call it “Ladder to the Moon”. My artist worked in America in the 1900’s. Georgia O’Keeffe died in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1986.

Chase, 5th Grade