Jeanne Christen (1894-1973) - Bruges: The Beguinage

Oil on canvas. Signed. The Beguinage of Bruges, founded in 1245 by Margaret of Constantinople, is a haven of peace where Flemish vernacular architecture achieves a sublime spirituality. This historic site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is distinguished by its immaculate whitewashed facades that contrast with the red-tiled roofs, arranged in a harmonious circle around a central garden planted with poplar trees. Its houses, of an almost ascetic simplicity yet imbued with a timeless dignity, bear witness to the presence of a community of women – the Beguines – who, without taking religious vows, sought a space of autonomy and devotion in the heart of medieval Europe. To pass through its neoclassical gate is to enter a microcosm of silence and light, where the labyrinthine layout of its streets and the simplicity of its architectural forms synthesize a legacy of cultural resilience and contemplation that seems to have suspended the flow of time on the banks of the Belgian canals. - Image dimensions without frame: 100 x 60 cm / 110 x 70 cm framed