Stadsgezicht met een brug 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner sketched this cityscape with a bridge using graphite, capturing a fleeting moment. Bridges, in the symbolic language of art, frequently represent transition—a crossing from one state of being to another. We find echoes of this symbolism in ancient Roman pontifex, meaning "bridge-builder," a title that evolved into a high priestly office, reflecting the bridge as a connection between the earthly and the divine. Consider, too, the arches within the bridge's structure, motifs that recur across epochs. From triumphal arches celebrating military victories to the archways in sacred architecture symbolizing a gateway to enlightenment, arches evoke progress and transformation. This symbol resonates in the viewer's subconscious, touching on the universal human experience of change. Breitner’s bridge is not just stone and steel; it is a passage through life.