Stairway To Nowhere

The photograph I worked from for this painting was taken in 1905. I have no idea what sort of life was ahead for this boy, but I do know that his future was limited by the attitudes and restrictions of our society at the time.

I originally painted this without the doorway or house behind him, but was encouraged to put them in. I think they added necessary context to the painting, but I also liked the idea of having him sit on steps that didn’t go anywhere. I feel like a stairway going nowhere was a good analogy for the restrictions that he had to fight throughout his life.

Unfortunately, I also feel like we are going back to those limiting times.