Gezicht op een brug in de Großer Tiergarten, Berlijn 1868 - 1870

This albumen print by Johann Friedrich Stiehm captures a winter scene in Berlin’s Tiergarten. At its heart lies a bridge, a potent symbol of transition and connection. Bridges, throughout history, have signified the bridging of divides—physical, emotional, and spiritual. In ancient Rome, the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest, was literally the "greatest bridge-builder," a role that connected the earthly and divine realms. Observe how the stark, snow-laden landscape evokes a sense of introspection, a journey into the self. This recalls Caspar David Friedrich’s landscapes, where nature reflects the human soul's inner states. Stiehm’s bridge becomes a threshold, inviting us to cross into a deeper understanding of our own place within the vast, cyclical patterns of nature and history. Its stark beauty and quiet solitude remind us of the enduring human quest for meaning and connection across time.