Gezicht op de Pont Royal in Parijs before 1840

Jean-Baptiste Arnout created this view of the Pont Royal in Paris sometime in the 19th century using lithography. Notice the bridge, a recurring symbol throughout art history, representing connection, transition, and passage. Here, the Pont Royal, a physical link over the Seine, mirrors a deeper, symbolic connection between different realms of experience. Consider how bridges appear in ancient Roman art, often depicted as triumphal arches, celebrating imperial power and conquest. Yet, in medieval allegories, bridges become precarious pathways, testing the pilgrim's faith. This symbol has an almost subconscious resonance, the viewer, positioned at the riverbank, may experience a stirring to cross, to connect, or perhaps a fear of the unknown that lies beyond. In this Parisian scene, the bridge is not merely a structure of stone and mortar; it is a stage upon which the drama of human experience unfolds, and the viewer becomes an unconscious participant in this timeless narrative.