Pont Neuf from the Quai de l’Ecole, Paris 1829

David Cox painted this view of the Pont Neuf from the Quai de l’Ecole, Paris using watercolor. Look closely at the bridge, the focal point of the composition: bridges have been rich symbols throughout history. From ancient times, they represented connection and transition, a link between two worlds, be they physical or metaphorical. Consider the Roman Pontifex Maximus, the "greatest bridge-builder," a title with both civic and spiritual weight. This symbolism carries through the medieval period, where bridges were seen as liminal spaces, often associated with pilgrimage and trade. But there’s also the darker side: think of the "bridge of sighs" connecting prisons to execution points. The emotional power of bridges continues to resonate today. They evoke the bittersweet nature of connection and separation, the joy of reaching new shores, and the melancholy of leaving familiar landscapes behind.