Stairway 

Edwin Headley Holgate created this wood engraving, titled Stairway, in the style of the early 20th century. The staircase motif, prominently dividing the composition, is a powerful symbol, deeply rooted in the human psyche. Stairways have been used to evoke ascension, transition, and the journey between different realms since antiquity. We find them in ancient Egyptian art, depicted in the journey of the soul, and in countless mythologies as pathways to the heavens. The stark contrast between the illuminated steps and the surrounding darkness emphasizes the psychological weight of transition and the unknown. The figure ascending the stairs embodies this tension, poised between the familiar and the uncharted. This interplay of light and shadow resonates with our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with transformation, challenge, and the potential for enlightenment. The symbol continues its cyclical progression, resurfacing in contemporary art as a potent metaphor for human aspiration.