On the Dee c. 19th century

Stephen Parrish etched "On the Dee," capturing a scene of daily life where a stone bridge stands as a testament to human connection. The bridge, an ancient symbol, has long been a powerful motif representing transition, connection, and passage. Bridges appear in mythologies and cultures around the world, from the Bifrost in Norse mythology connecting Earth to Asgard, to the Roman Pontifex Maximus, the "greatest bridge-builder," who symbolized a link between the earthly and the divine. The bridge, in this image, is more than a physical structure; it represents a psychological and emotional pathway linking shores, ideas, and people. Like a recurring dream, the bridge motif continually resurfaces, each time colored by the context in which it appears, carrying the weight of generations and speaking to our innate desire for connection.