Overhead Crossing 1935

A. Grant Arnold made this lithograph print, titled Overhead Crossing, in 1938. The dominant image of a railroad bridge carries the weight of human progress, bridging divides both physical and metaphorical. The bridge itself, an ancient symbol, echoes the Roman aqueducts, testaments to engineering and societal advancement. But here, the stark geometry and the looming presence of power lines suggest a darker undertone. Compare this to the bridge in Caspar David Friedrich’s romantic landscapes, where it symbolizes a passage into the unknown. The bridge motif also finds resonance in psychological terms: a 'bridge' between consciousness and the subconscious. The bridge becomes a channel for exploring the depths of the human mind, where emotions and symbols converge. The emotional impact lies in the tension between progress and the potential for alienation. The image becomes a powerful force, engaging the viewer on a subconscious level. Like a coiled serpent, the image of the bridge resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, reflecting society’s changing relationship with technology.