Brug bij Maarssen 1637 - 1652

Geertruydt Roghman etched this image of the bridge at Maarssen in the mid-17th century. Here, the bridge is not merely a functional structure; it is a profound symbol of transition and connection. Bridges have historically represented pivotal junctures – passages from one state to another, both physically and metaphorically. Consider the ancient Roman concept of the "Pontifex Maximus," the chief priest, literally "the greatest bridge-builder," who connected the earthly and divine realms. In Roghman’s etching, the bridge creates a liminal space, much like the threshold in a dream where conscious and unconscious thoughts meet. We see this echoed throughout art history, from medieval allegories of the soul’s journey to modern psychological interpretations of crossing as a transformative experience. This image, therefore, is not just a depiction of a landscape, but an invitation to contemplate the deeper currents of human experience.