The Bridge of Life depicts the different stages of life using a bridge, a common metaphor to describe the middle ground between life and death. For example, the British royal family uses different bridges in the United Kingdom as code names for members’ deaths. In his painting, Crane uses the bridge to outline the diverse stages of life, featuring classical and biblical figures that are familiar to Western viewers.
On the very left of the painting are a woman breastfeeding her baby, another woman helping her baby climb up the stairs, and another woman presenting her baby to a man with angel wings on a boat, most likely Hermes, the Greek messenger god who also guided spirits to and from the underworld. Based on these, one could infer that this stage represents infancy.
On the upper left are an old man reading a scroll to a little boy, and a boy and girl playing together, perhaps representing childhood. To their right is a young couple, likely representing adulthood.
Throughout the centre and upper right of the bridge are various figures, some being recognisable ones from Greek mythology, evident from their laurels. One such example is a satyr at the centre-left. The woman with a wheel is possibly Hecate, the goddess of magic. Another easily recognisable figure is Atlas, evident by the globe he is balancing on his shoulders. The woman carrying a cloak of the night sky is likely Nyx, the goddess of the night, the end of the day.
Towards the right of the painting, near Nyx, are an old man, obviously representing the later years of life. Near the old man is a man biting into an apple, likely Adam from Genesis, perhaps representing the loss of innocence in adulthood. Near Adam is a woman holding a torch, likely guiding an individual to the afterlife.
Finally, at the bottom of the bridge are two veiled women grieving a dead person, who is carried away on another boat by a bald figure with bat wings, likely Satan, hinting that the deceased will be in Hell. I found this a rather interesting choice of depiction on Crane’s part, perhaps one that reflects his possible cynical view of humanity.
Crane uses this painting to show the cyclical nature of existence and the wheel of time that waits for no one. The stillness of the river illustrates that even amidst life's upheavals, time remains constant and flows continuously, much like the existence of all living things. He uses the bridge to show the journey of reaching from one position/stage to the other, using a shift in colors to show the beginning and the end. It is a map of human life, using an arch design to show a pinnacle and unavoidable decline that will follow. It shows the sociality of humans, uses mythological figures from Greek mythology such as the Moirai (the fates), Charon (the winged creator; messenger of death), the spirit of life, etc., and serves as a reminder of death, which makes us appreciate and celebrate life and richness that comes with human experiences.
