Haarlemmersluis in het Singel, Amsterdam 1859

Pieter Oosterhuis captured the Haarlemmersluis in the Singel, Amsterdam, using photography. The bridge, a prominent symbol, functions as both a physical structure and a cultural artifact. Throughout history, bridges have represented connections, transitions, and passages. From the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of ancient Rome, whose title literally means "greatest bridge-builder," to the rainbow bridge of Norse mythology, these structures carry deep symbolic weight. Here, the bridge is not merely a way to cross the water, but a gateway, hinting at the ebb and flow of commerce and daily life in Amsterdam. The image of a bridge reappears throughout art history, each time imbued with the unique concerns of its era. Its enduring presence speaks to our collective need to overcome divisions, both physical and metaphorical. In Amsterdam, a city built on canals, the bridge is more than a functional necessity; it embodies the city’s spirit of connection.