A Bridge on the River Ticino, near Polleggio c. 1770

Editor: This watercolor, "A Bridge on the River Ticino, near Polleggio," by William Pars, captures a dramatic scene. The scale feels intimate, yet the subject is grand. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s a dance, isn't it? A dialogue between the human touch—that delicate bridge—and nature's raw power. Pars frames nature, literally, taming it for our contemplation, yet the cascading water defies such control. I wonder, are we meant to feel comforted or confronted? Editor: Confronted, definitely. I hadn't considered that tension. Thanks! Curator: The play of light is also very telling, the way the white of the water almost glows in contrast to the darker rocks. It shows nature's beauty but also its inherent danger. It is almost a metaphor for life! Food for thought, wouldn’t you say?