Gran Ponte in Ferro Sul Po 1899

Giuseppe Barberis made this print of the "Gran Ponte in Ferro Sul Po" during a time of great industrial and social change. Focusing on a long iron bridge over the Po river, the image captures the monumental scale of industrial progress. Bridges like this one symbolized a transformation in Italian society, connecting disparate regions and facilitating the movement of goods and people. Consider what this meant for the mostly agrarian, and often isolated communities living along the river. How would their lives change? The presence of figures at the base of the bridge offers a human perspective on the enormity of the structure. They seem dwarfed by the ironwork above them, suggesting both the potential and the limitations of this new era. This print invites us to contemplate how progress shapes our connection to each other, and to reflect on the emotional impact of the transformations that define our societies.