Mensen en boten langs een rivier in Yokohama 1902

This photograph, taken by T. Enami, captures a bustling river scene in Yokohama. We see men working, boats laden with goods, and a bridge spanning the waterway. The bridge is not merely a physical structure; it symbolizes connection and transition. Consider the arched form of the bridge itself. Throughout history, the arch has been a motif of aspiration, found in triumphal arches of Rome to Gothic cathedrals, each embodying a striving towards the heavens. The bridge here echoes this, suggesting not just a passage over water, but also a link between different states of being, a movement from one reality to another. The image is a snapshot of daily life, yet these repeated patterns are not static. Just as the river flows, the symbols within it—the arch, the boats, the labor—are constantly being reshaped by cultural and historical forces, creating an intricate dance between past and present. It is an emotional experience that draws us in.