Giardini Publici, Fondamenta San Giuseppe, Venice 1885

Andrew Fisher Bunner's "Giardini Publici, Fondamenta San Giuseppe, Venice" captures a serene canal scene with careful strokes of ink on paper. The bridge here, a recurring motif throughout Venice, acts as a symbolic passage. Think of the bridge not merely as stone and mortar, but as a symbol of transition, much like the archways in Roman triumphal art, or even the rainbow bridge Bifrost, connecting Midgard and Asgard in Norse mythology. Bridges speak to our subconscious desire to overcome divisions, bridging not just physical spaces, but also emotional and spiritual divides. In Bunner's scene, the bridge’s reflection shimmers in the water, hinting at the ethereal and the temporal. Over time, the symbol of the bridge has traversed cultures, each time carrying the weight of its origins, yet adapting to the needs and psyche of a new epoch. As you gaze into the water, consider how these symbols of connection resonate within your own memories and experiences.