Battersea Bridge 1885

John Atkinson Grimshaw’s "Battersea Bridge" shows a nocturne painted with oil on canvas. Here, the moon is not merely a celestial body; it becomes a potent symbol, a silent witness. The moon, a recurring motif throughout history, presides over this industrial scene, and reminds us of its earliest associations with divinity. It has been worshipped in ancient cultures as a powerful and mysterious force. From Selene in Greek mythology to Luna in Roman lore, the moon was seen to influence earthly rhythms and human emotions, a meaning that continues to resonate subconsciously. Consider its echo in Caspar David Friedrich’s landscapes, where the moon invokes a sense of sublime solitude. Or the countless depictions of the Virgin Mary standing on the crescent moon, a symbol of purity. These images evoke a dreamlike state, tapping into our collective unconscious and awakening a sense of wonder. The moon, eternally waxing and waning, is a powerful presence here. It draws us into the cyclical patterns of history, a continuous return.