De Ponte Salario, in de Campagna 1778 - 1839

Hendrik Voogd’s drawing depicts the Ponte Salario, a bridge in the Roman Campagna, with its tower, rendered in muted tones. A bridge, as a symbol, represents connection, transition, and passage—a link between two separate realms, physical or metaphorical. Consider the ancient Roman bridges, engineering marvels that not only facilitated movement but also symbolized the empire's power and reach. The Ponte Salario itself has stood for centuries, witnessing countless journeys and historical events. This image of passage and connection appears in myth and art across time. The bridge motif appears in religious symbolism to discuss the transition from life to death. In the Kabbalah, it's seen as a bridge between the earthly and the divine. The enduring image of a bridge stirs deep within us a longing for connection, a desire to overcome obstacles, and a hope for safe passage through life's journey. Like a recurring dream, it resurfaces in our collective consciousness, transformed yet fundamentally unchanged, a testament to the human spirit's quest for connection.