18th century bridge/Francisco Tresguerras/Celaya

Built in 1805-07 over the Laja River—the Bajío's most important river—leading into Celaya, Guanajuato; Tresguerras was one of New Spain's most productive architects, who built in the so-called neo classical style. However, as one can see from the photos, he could never get rid of his Mexican Baroque sensibility, however much he may have tried for the clean, straight lines of the neo classical.

The bridge must have been a major improvement for public transportation at the time. Today, the bridge is in disuse, and has been for years, since there is a modern toll road and an much-improved state highway (seen in the background of some of the photos) that cross the river. Most people crossing the river today do not even notice that they're crossing it. The river, seen in the photos, is much-reduced since the 1970s, when a major dam was built 60 or so miles upriver from the bridge.

The fact that the bridge is still there, although it has long been bypassed by modern highways, is characteristic of Mexico. Were it in the US, it would either be long-gone and built over many times in the creative destruction of capitalism or it would be preserved under glass, so to speak, with a visitor's center, guided tours, parking areas, admission fees and lots and lots of rules. Here in Mexico, it just stands there subject to wind, water and so-called graffiti artists. There is much less of the latter's so-called artistic efforts than one would expect to find since the bridge is now in the middle of an inner-city neighborhood and the authorities do not control graffiti so-called artists anywhere outside of city centers. Possible they respect a work of art that has lasted for 200 years, without even knowing that it is, in fact, a 200-year-old work of art. Or maybe not.

ロモグラファー:
roquenuevo
アップロード日:
2011-11-10
カメラ:
Rollei 35
フィルム:
Kodak Gold 100 (35mm)
都市:
celaya
国 / 地域:
Mexico
年:
2011
時間:
afternoon
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