Gezicht op de Alte Brücke over de rivier de Main te Frankfurt am Main 1742 - 1801

Georg Balthasar Probst created this print of the Alte Brücke over the Main river in Frankfurt am Main. Probst, who lived from 1732 to 1801, situates us in a moment of burgeoning urban pride. The image, rendered with meticulous detail, reflects a society structured around commerce and burgeoning civic identity. The bridge, a stone artery, symbolizes connection and prosperity. But who exactly benefits from this prosperity? Notice how the figures in the boats are dwarfed by the architecture, suggesting an imbalance of power. This isn't just a picture of a bridge; it's a glimpse into a world where the promise of progress is shadowed by questions of equity and access. What does it mean to be connected when the terms of that connection are so unevenly distributed? The scene invites us to consider who is included and who is overlooked in the grand narratives of urban development.