Tibereiland 1680

This etching by Hier. Ferri depicts the Tiber Island in Rome. Bridges are prominent, physically connecting disparate banks of the river, symbolizing a union of different realms. The bridge has long been more than just a practical structure. Consider the ancient Roman bridges, emblems of imperial power, which reappear in Renaissance art as symbols of renewed authority, like the Ponte Sant'Angelo, leading pilgrims to the Vatican, or even in modern times, in dreams, representing the crossing from one stage of life to another. These crossings evoke deep-seated anxieties and desires. In our collective memory, the bridge is a powerful symbol of transition, a liminal space fraught with both danger and opportunity. This etching reminds us that, like the images themselves, we are all travelers, constantly moving between worlds, seeking connection, and confronting the currents of history.