Gezicht op de Oudeschans te Amsterdam gezien vanaf het IJ Possibly 1752 - 1754

This is a view of the Oudeschans in Amsterdam from the IJ, captured by Louis-Joseph Mondhare. At its heart lies the prominent presence of water, both a life-giving force and a boundary. Consider the cultural memory embedded in the waterways. The bridges, depicted here, are more than mere crossings; they are symbolic links between worlds. These bridges connect the physical and the metaphysical, mirroring the ancient Roman concept of the "pons," a sacred bridge that also alluded to the office of the Pontifex Maximus, a ‘bridge builder’ between humanity and the divine. Throughout history, bridges have signified transition, connection, and passage. This image captures that continuous cultural motif: a constant negotiation between different realms, reflected through the enduring symbol of the bridge.