Gezicht in Venetië 1870 - 1923

Willem Witsen captured this Venice scene with a pencil, freezing a moment in time. Dominating the foreground is the gondola, a symbol of Venice itself, representing transit but also secrecy. The bridge is the other dominant symbol, a recurring image that spans across cultures. From ancient Roman aqueducts to medieval crossings, the bridge represents connection and transition. Here, it is a stage for daily life, where figures cross, meet, and part. But the bridge is more than mere infrastructure, and it speaks to our psychological desire to overcome divides. Bridges appear throughout art history as both physical and metaphorical links, and a way to connect one realm to another. Their enduring presence in art and our collective consciousness speaks to our universal desire for connection. The gondolas and bridges create a powerful force in the image, connecting us to history and our deepest longings for connection.