Tan y Bwlch, North Wales c. 1810 - 1815

John Sell Cotman etched "Tan y Bwlch, North Wales," capturing a pastoral scene anchored by a sturdy bridge and grazing cattle. The bridge, a man-made structure, crosses the water, a symbol as old as civilization itself. This motif of the bridge as a connector is not new. Consider the Roman bridges, symbols of imperial power and connection, or even older Mesopotamian depictions of river crossings. The bridge here signifies not just physical passage, but a psychological crossing, a link between the familiar and the unknown. Even the cattle carry weight. They reappear in countless pastoral scenes throughout art history as symbols of nature's bounty, of peace and timelessness. The image engages viewers on a subconscious level, tapping into primal feelings of longing for simpler times. Like a serpent eating its own tail, the bridge endures, ever-changing yet always present.