Landschap met brug 1800 - 1950

This is an Italian landscape with a bridge, made in the 16th century by an artist known only as Monogrammist M. A humble scene, but the bridge and church are powerful symbols. The bridge has appeared across many cultures as a symbol of transition, a passage from one state of being to another. In ancient Roman times, the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest, was literally the "bridge-builder" between the gods and humanity. This symbolic role is reflected in the church spire in the distance, another point of connection, reaching to the divine. We can see how the artist has subtly combined the earthly with the spiritual. The recurrence of the bridge motif throughout history suggests a deeply rooted human desire to connect, to overcome divides, and to seek passage to new understanding, both physical and metaphysical. It is the timeless symbol that invites reflection on our own journeys and connections.