Gezicht op Praag 1857 - 1863

This stereoscopic image captures Prague, a city of profound historical and cultural weight, rendered with the mechanical precision of early photography. Note the dominant spires and the bridge, symbols that transcend mere architecture. Spires, historically associated with religious aspiration, reach towards the heavens, while the bridge serves as both a physical and metaphorical connection between different realms of existence. The motif of the bridge echoes across cultures, from the Roman pontifex, the bridge-maker priest, to the Bifröst of Norse mythology. It represents transition, communication, and the overcoming of division. Here, in Prague, it is more than just a link across the river Vltava; it embodies the city’s historical role as a crossroads of cultures and ideas. The collective memory embedded in these symbols engages us subconsciously, evoking a deep sense of continuity and connection with the past. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, each time coloured by the unique historical context in which they appear.