Marcel Duchamp (1912) "Nude Descending a Staircase"

Quilt Notes: GOLDEN STAIRS made its print debut in Laura Wheeler's quilt column in the Cincinnati Enquirer, on August 28, 1933, according to Jinny Beyer's QUILTER'S ALBUM OF PATCHWORK PATTERNS. In fact Beyer's ALBUM offers an amazing design section titled "3 x 3 Base Category," with a surprisingly beautiful selection of elemental patterns. These include, for example, BIRDS IN THE AIR, also WEST WIND, or PUSS IN THE CORNER and GREEN RIVER. The long stairway here flows diagonally across the entire quilt when tiled (see below), highlighted with many slants of gold. All sorts of intricate fabrics can add great mystery to the symbolism of ascending and descending. The theme easily brings to mind Marcel Duchamp's famous Cubist masterpiece, NUDE DESCENDING A STAIRCASE, illustrated left. For more designs at this site focusing on themes of dark and light see: AURORA STARS CITY STREETS LIGHT AND SHADOWS MYSTIC STAR STAR LANE STARRY PATH SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS SUNSHINE AND STAINED GLASS