Avond te Verona before 1931

Etienne Bosch created this print, Avond te Verona, using etching. Dominating the scene is the bridge, an ancient symbol of connection and transition, stretching across the water. In Bosch’s etching, the arches of the bridge are echoed in the reflections below, creating a sense of unity and continuity. The bridge as a motif appears across cultures and eras, from Roman aqueducts to medieval crossings, each time carrying the weight of passage and exchange. The dome in the background, likely a church, reminds us of mankind’s aspirations for the divine, an icon that stretches back through the Renaissance, when the dome was readopted, all the way to antiquity. This desire to emulate the sacred is deeply embedded in our collective memory, manifesting in our art and architecture. The dome acts as a beacon, drawing our eyes and perhaps our souls upward. Consider how these symbols resonate within us, shaped by centuries of cultural and psychological conditioning. The image speaks not only to the beauty of Verona but also to the timeless human quest for connection.