Conference about History of Arts / Is Mona Lisa entitled to be beautiful?

We use stairs so frequently and as part of our daily lives—and have done so for so long in human history—that we tend to forget the symbolic significance of this architectural feature. As a place of passage, elevation, or connection, the staircase has thus come to reflect our relationship to the sacred, to the heavens, or to knowledge.
Its form is, of course, a source of infinite creativity for architects, who bring out its full character—whether monumental or modest, functional or aesthetic, visible or concealed. Its lines and its relationship to the space it structures also interest visual artists, who play with its representation, its internal rhythm, and its dialogue with the human body. Finally, its symbolism is widely embraced by artists, who incorporate it into their compositions to create complex narratives—sophisticated stories that are always rich in meaning.

• Topics: Creative arts/plastic arts
• Type: Cultural