Marina Pallares created this print titled "La Escalera," or "The Staircase," in a style reminiscent of a Lotería card. The dominant symbol, naturally, is the staircase itself, winding upwards towards a crescent moon. The staircase, or ladder, as a motif is quite ancient, appearing across cultures as a symbol of ascension, be it spiritual, social, or intellectual. Think of Jacob's ladder in the Old Testament, a dream vision of connection between heaven and earth. The staircase is laden with the weight of human longing, a potent expression of aspiration and transformation. We see this desire echoed through time, from ancient Egyptian depictions of pharaohs ascending to the heavens on ramps, to Renaissance allegories of virtue climbing towards divine grace. Pallares' "Escalera" distills this perennial yearning into a simple yet striking visual form. It invites us to reflect on our own ascent through life, the obstacles we overcome, and the transcendent goals we pursue.