Ponte Conarreggio 

Sidney Mackenzie Litten created ‘Ponte Conarreggio’ as an etching, presenting us with a vista of Venice. The composition is dominated by the graceful arch of the bridge, its curve echoed in the reflections on the water below. The image is a study in contrasts between the solidity of the architecture and the fluidity of the water. Look closely at Litten’s technique. Notice how the etched lines vary in density, creating areas of light and shadow that define the forms and textures. The buildings are rendered with a network of fine lines, suggesting their age and the effects of weathering. The reflections in the canal, however, are more broken and fragmented, giving a sense of movement and ephemerality. The bridge serves as a visual metaphor, connecting different aspects of Venetian life, the old with the new. But it also destabilizes our sense of perspective, drawing us into the scene while simultaneously reminding us of the constructed nature of representation. The formal structure invites us to reflect on the nature of perception itself, and how we create meaning through visual experience.