Spiral Staircase and Figures 

Here we have James Ensor’s sketch, depicting a spiral staircase and figures. The staircase is more than a mere architectural element; it is a potent symbol, resonating with themes of ascent, transformation, and revelation that echo in the Tower of Babel and alchemical diagrams. The figures, rendered as ghostly apparitions, evoke the dance of life and death. Ensor’s staircase finds echoes in Piranesi’s labyrinthine prisons, both hinting at the disorienting nature of existence. Consider the spiral’s appearance in ancient Minoan art, where it symbolized life’s cyclical journey. Here, in Ensor’s work, it represents the relentless, cyclical nature of human experience. This archetypal symbol resonates deep within the collective unconscious, engaging viewers on a subconscious level and reminding us of our shared humanity. The spiraling form—a symbol of both progress and repetition—surfaces and evolves, carrying its deep-seated cultural memories into new eras.