Fotoreproductie van een tekening, voorstellende het interieur van de Opéra Garnier te Parijs c. 1865 - 1875

This photogravure captures the grand staircase of the Opéra Garnier in Paris, a symbol of 19th-century opulence. The architectural motifs, such as the ornate balustrades and the figures adorning the staircase, echo classical themes of power and prestige. Consider the staircase itself—an ancient symbol found in Minoan frescoes and Renaissance paintings alike. It represents ascent, transition, and social hierarchy. The figures ascending the staircase, dressed in their finery, embody this aspiration. The staircase is not merely functional, but a stage where social rituals are performed and status is displayed. In ancient Greece, the Pythia, whose fountain is referenced below the staircase, was the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi who served as the channel of the god, providing prophesies. Here, the artist may be alluding to the idea that access to art is a higher calling. Just as the Pythia offered divine wisdom, so too does the opera provide aesthetic enlightenment, a modern temple of the arts. This image reminds us that symbols are never static; they evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings, reflecting the collective dreams and anxieties of each era.