Untitled [bridge with bike] c. 20th century

This photograph, taken by James Bartlett Rich, shows a bridge where a bicycle rests, and a figure stands gazing into the distance. Water flows powerfully beneath their feet. The image of flowing water has coursed through art history, carrying different currents of meaning. We see it in ancient Greek art, symbolizing life, purification, and the relentless passage of time. Similarly, this photograph captures the perpetual motion of water. Yet, the presence of the bicycle, a relatively modern invention, adds another layer: progress, but also transience. One can't help but feel the ephemeral nature of the present moment, a fleeting intersection of nature and technology. Like a dream image, the sound of cascading water can evoke both tranquility and unease. In dreams and myths, water often represents the subconscious, a deep well of emotions and hidden desires. Here, the water might suggest a deeper, unconscious connection between the individuals on the bridge, their past, and the future that flows before them. It reminds us that what stands still also moves forward.