Landschap met een brug 1909

Johan Antonie de Jonge made this landscape with a bridge with pencil on paper. De Jonge was part of a generation of artists living through significant socio-political upheaval, including labor movements and women's suffrage. In this sketch, we can see how gender, class, and the changing Dutch landscape intersect. De Jonge's landscapes often omit any human figures, yet the bridge is evidence of human interaction with nature. The bridge is also a symbol of connection. The bridge may represent the divide between rural life and the burgeoning industry of the time. As you observe the bridge, consider how it mirrors the societal bridges being built and the gaps that remain. De Jonge invites us to reflect on the bridges we build and the landscapes we shape. How do they shape our identities, and what stories do they tell about our collective past and present?