Straatgezicht met figuren op een trap 1829 - 1894

Gerrit Postma sketched this street view with figures on a staircase using graphite, capturing a scene rich with implied narratives. The staircase, a dominant motif, serves as both a physical structure and a symbolic ascent. We see this same symbol in Piranesi's architectural fantasies, where staircases often defy logic. They evoke a sense of boundlessness and the labyrinthine qualities of the human condition. Think of Jacob's Ladder, a biblical image of upward spiritual progression. Here, the steps are populated with figures—each step a stage in life. Staircases have long served as potent symbols in the theater of the mind and a mirror of our subconscious. They beckon our innate desire to transcend earthly confines.