Gezicht op Bazel met drie Rijnbruggen before 1899

Photoglob & Co. captured this view of Basel with its three Rhine bridges in a photograph, showcasing symbols that resonate through time. Bridges, so prominent here, are more than mere crossings. Think of the "Ponte Vecchio" in Florence, laden with shops, or the Rialto Bridge in Venice, bustling with life. These are liminal spaces, thresholds between worlds, echoing the ancient Roman "pontifex," the bridge-builder, who was also a priest, connecting the earthly and divine. The Rhine itself is no neutral element. Rivers, from the Nile to the Ganges, have always represented the flow of life, the relentless passage of time, and the boundary between states. Here, it embodies both division and connection, its waters reflecting the city's dual nature. This duality is reflected across centuries; the psychological undercurrent of water remains a potent force, engaging us on a primal level. This image, therefore, isn't simply a landscape. It's a tableau of enduring motifs, symbols that echo across art history, resurfacing in different guises, each time carrying a palimpsest of accumulated meanings.