From Monet’s Waterlily Pond to the Golden Gate, bridge art has been the object of intrigue for centuries. But what makes the ‘bridge’ such a powerful symbol? Let’s look into the history of artists’ fascination with bridges, and showcase some of our favorite bridge art along the way.
What We Do When We Build Bridges
In the tarot, the bridge card symbolizes progress, stability, and connection. We build bridges to overcome obstacles and take us to new places. Bridges connect one previously isolated place to another and allow people to come together. We mention the concept of building bridges whenever we want to unify places or people that are otherwise separated. For all of these reasons, the image of the bridge represents a powerful connection and a symbol of hope.
Hanging framed art of bridges can instill the same hope and sense of connection, even subtly. Since bridges need geometric symmetry, often with long and beautiful lines and shapes, the image of the bridge encompasses it’s own strong, appealing aesthetic. Whether depicted in a painting, photograph, drawing, or any other medium, the image of a bridge compliments almost any decorating style
Unique Bridge Art
FramedArt.com has thousands of framed pieces with bridges as the subject. Some, like photography of the Brooklyn Bridge, are much more commonly displayed in homes and offices. Others, however, are less common and more unique pieces, even if the bridges they depict are known worldwide. Let’s take a look at a few:
A Vintage Postcard from San Francisco – This is a famous bridge depicted in a not-so-famous way. The bright colors and cartoony action of the vintage postcard is unique, but still strikingly beautiful.
The Brooklyn Bridge, Abstracted – This print of the Brooklyn Bridge by Marti Bofarull shows a new perspective of the architectural marvel. Guests in your home may have to look twice to figure out what exactly it is they’re looking at.
The Bridge in New York’s Central Park… in Winter! – There are many photos of the bridge in Central Park, but not many that depict the cold glow of a winter night! This black and white photograph offers a glittering, chilling perspective.
The Best Bridges You’ve Never Heard Of
Now that we have covered a few unique depictions of popular bridges, here are some of the world’s coolest bridges you’ve probably never seen before:
The Mackinac Bridge – The “Big Mac” as the locals call it is a suspension bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of the state of Michigan. Lower Peninsulans call those across the bridge “Yoopers” (because they live in the U.P.). Yoopers, in turn, call those on the southern side “Trolls” (since they live under the bridge.) But all Michiganders have a soft spot in their heart for the Mackinac Bridge.
The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge – This bridge, commonly known as the Newport Bridge, spans the ease passage of the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. The bridge is a whopping 1,600 feet long, with the beautiful finesse that only suspension bridges have. It opened in 1969, and posed a serious challenge to the builders–divers had to anchor the bridge’s piles 162 feet below the water’s surface!
If you can’t make it to see these bridges in person, check out photography of these two bridges and more in the gallery, and consider hanging bridge art in your home!
