Meisje op de brug van Prinseneiland in Amsterdam c. 1890 - 1910

This photograph, by George Hendrik Breitner, captures a fleeting moment on Prinseneiland in Amsterdam. The bridge and the water beneath represent a threshold, a point of transition. The girl strides forward, her arm extended, evoking a sense of purpose, a march towards destiny. The image is reminiscent of classical depictions of figures like Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune, often portrayed stepping forward, embodying the relentless flow of time. We find such depictions in Renaissance frescoes and even ancient Roman coins. Breitner's photograph shares a kinship with these portrayals, but here, the goddess is an anonymous child, her destiny uncertain. This resonates with our collective memory of childhood as a period of potential, of paths yet untrodden. Her blurred form suggests the ephemeral nature of these moments, capturing the psychological weight of choices and the passage of time, compelling us to reflect on the continuous cycle of life.