Casas en Alto 1922

In 1922, Xul Solar crafted 'Casas en Alto', a watercolor that presents us with more than just buildings on stilts; it unveils a yearning for elevation, both physical and spiritual. These houses, raised high, immediately call to mind the Tower of Babel, not as a symbol of hubris, but as a collective striving towards the heavens. This motif of ascent recurs throughout art history, from the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia to the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, each structure echoing humanity's aspiration to transcend earthly bounds. Consider the ladders; they are reminiscent of Jacob's Ladder, bridging the gap between the earthly and the divine. We observe this archetype evolving across cultures: a potent symbol etched in our collective unconscious, reappearing in various forms, each time imbued with new cultural nuances, yet retaining its fundamental essence of connection between worlds. Through Solar's dreamlike architecture, we’re reminded that art is not merely representation, but a profound dialogue with our shared human experience, resonating with the echoes of ages past.