Parti ved Ponte Rotto i Rom 1860

Vilhelm Kyhn created this print, 'Parti ved Ponte Rotto i Rom,' capturing a scene of the Ponte Rotto in Rome. Kyhn, a landscape painter, positioned himself within a Romantic nationalist movement that sought to define a unique Danish identity through its art. His travels to Italy provided a rich source of inspiration, filtered through the lens of his own cultural identity. In this print, the Ponte Rotto, or broken bridge, stands as a poignant metaphor for the passage of time and the vicissitudes of history. The bridge, once a symbol of Roman engineering prowess, is depicted in a state of disrepair, a reminder of the transience of human achievement. We might consider the two men who are present in the piece, one poling a boat, the other seeming to be gathering items at the edge of the bank. What kind of labour are they performing? This depiction invites reflection on themes of loss, memory, and the relationship between past and present. The artist asks us to consider our place within the flow of history.