Gezicht op de Dada Harirbron in Ahmedabad before 1866

This photographic print captures the Dada Harir stepwell in Ahmedabad, embodying a cultural crossroads of visual and functional symbolism. The stepwell, or 'baoli', is a common feature of arid regions in India; a practical solution to water scarcity, but also a sacred space. Notice the way it descends into the earth, a symbolic descent into the subconscious, a place of reflection and purification. We can trace the motif of descending stairs, ritually and symbolically, back to ancient ziggurats and even further to prehistoric cave paintings, where the act of 'going down' has always signified an encounter with the deeper, hidden aspects of existence. Consider the psychological weight of these deep wells. They are both life-sustaining and potentially dangerous. The image evokes a sense of mystery and the human desire to connect with the earth's life-giving resources. It is a powerful reminder of how essential symbols can be to our understanding of the world, and how these symbols, charged with meaning, reappear across cultures and eras.