Gezicht op de Meulestedebrug in Gent 1789

This is Jacques André Joseph Trachez's etching, portraying a view of the Meulestedebrug in Gent. Consider the bridge itself, a crucial symbol of connection and transition. Bridges have always been more than mere structures; they are potent metaphors for the passage from one state to another, a link between the known and the unknown. We see this echoed across centuries, from ancient Roman pontifexes who were both bridge-builders and priests, to the bridge as a symbol of spiritual passage in various mythologies. Notice the figures pausing on the road. This evokes the motif of the 'crossroads,' a place of decision and destiny. The crossroads is a recurring symbol in folklore and mythology, representing a moment of profound choice, a point where one's path diverges, influencing not just the individual but the collective memory of decision-making. This image encapsulates a deep human experience: the moment of choosing our path, steeped in history and the weight of cultural memory.