The artwork, “Staircase in the rue Rollin,” created by Brassai in 1934, is a quintessential piece from the Surrealism movement and belongs to the photo genre. This evocative photograph captures a scene of an outdoor staircase, illuminated by street lamps and adorned with various posters, in a seemingly desolate Parisian street.
In the composition, a spiral staircase dominates the right side, ascending with an almost mysterious allure, while street lamps disperse their dim light, casting soft shadows. The surrounding architecture, with its closed shutters and aged walls plastered with posters advertising dance halls, cabarets, and commercial products, evokes a sense of bygone Parisian urban life. The interplay of light and shadow creates a dreamlike, surreal atmosphere, embodying the essence of Surrealism by transforming an ordinary street scene into a piece of brooding, enigmatic art.
