Horseman on the Stone Bridge c. 17th century

Editor: This is Allart van Everdingen's "Horseman on the Stone Bridge," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a fascinating landscape, and the bridge seems to divide the composition. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The bridge indeed acts as a threshold. Notice how the horseman is positioned at the apex, almost a symbolic guardian, perhaps connecting two different states of being. The crumbling stone suggests a world in flux. What memories or emotions does this liminal space evoke for you? Editor: That’s interesting. The bridge looks like it's been damaged. I wonder what event might have caused that. Curator: Perhaps the damage is a symbol of time's relentless march, or a reflection of personal or societal upheaval. It invites us to contemplate what is lost, but also what remains. It’s a potent visual metaphor, don't you think? Editor: I agree. I hadn’t considered the bridge as a symbol of both destruction and continuity. Thanks!