Halsteeg in Delft 1917

Here we have Halsteeg in Delft, a watercolor and pencil drawing by Frans Holst. The most compelling visual element is the staircase. More than mere architectural features, staircases have served as potent symbols across cultures and eras. Consider Jacob's Ladder, a biblical motif of spiritual ascent. Closer to home, think of Piranesi's dramatic etchings of impossible stairways, evoking the dizzying heights of human ambition and despair. Holst's staircases, bathed in a somber light, lead to unseen upper stories, embodying a sense of mystery. The interplay of light and shadow evokes deep-seated emotions, inviting us to contemplate the unseen and the unknown. This motif is not merely a structural element; it is a symbolic passageway, suggesting the cyclical nature of human experience. Like a dream, these staircases lead us on a journey of endless ascent and descent.