Gezicht op een brug en een haven te Peking 1745 - 1775

This print, depicting a view of a bridge and harbor in Peking, was made by Jean-François Daumont. Observe the bridge spanning the water, a symbol deeply rooted in the collective human psyche. Bridges, in their essence, are liminal spaces – connectors of disparate worlds. From the Pontifex Maximus of ancient Rome, who literally built bridges and metaphorically connected the earthly and divine realms, to the Bifröst in Norse mythology, a bridge of fire linking Midgard and Asgard, the act of bridging is a potent motif. Here, the Peking bridge facilitates not just physical passage but also, on a deeper level, symbolizes the bridging of cultures, ideas, and perhaps even the conscious and unconscious mind. Consider how this motif resurfaces across epochs, each time laden with new yet familiar significance. This image invites us to contemplate the continuous, cyclical progression of symbols, how they evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, engaging us on a subconscious level.