The Little Bridge (Le Petit Pont) 17th century

Jacob van Ruisdael etched this print, named 'The Little Bridge', in the Dutch Golden Age. The bridge, seemingly simple, carries the weight of cultural memory. Observe how Ruisdael has placed the bridge as a link between two worlds; on one side, we have the familiar, the decaying house with its thatched roof, while on the other, an unknown path forward. Bridges often appear in art as liminal spaces that represent transitions. From ancient Roman pontifex, the bridge builder-priest, to the Bifröst bridge in Norse mythology connecting Midgard and Asgard, cultures have always used bridges as a way to traverse not only physical but also spiritual divides. In dreams, a bridge symbolizes a new phase, a journey from one state of being to another. This little bridge by Ruisdael isn’t merely a structure of wood and stone, but a passage into the unknown. It reflects our universal desire to overcome obstacles, connect disparate realms, and move forward, despite the decay that lingers behind.