Escalera

Escalera, 1988 Lithograph by R.C. Gorman. The word escalera means ladder, and Gorman captures a Navajo woman in dynamic motion as she climbs wooden rungs against a twilight purple sky. She wears a burgundy shirt and soft pink skirt, her barefoot form reaching upward with determination and grace. A lavender scarf flows from her head and shoulders, adding to the sense of movement and aspiration. The wooden ladder, rendered in warm natural tones, anchors the composition while the mauve and purple background evokes evening light. Her upward reaching pose suggests both physical climb and spiritual ascent. A powerful metaphorical work perfect for collectors seeking Gorman’s more dynamic figurative compositions.