Magnolia blossoms in Bruges: Church of Our Lady by Bruges Artworks

This original watercolour depicts the magnolias in bloom at the historic St John’s Hospital in Bruges. Large pink and pale purple flowers fill the foreground, whilst the imposing tower of the Church of Our Lady rises above the branches. Behind the blossoms, a vibrant spring sky unfolds with bright blue, white clouds and soft sunlight.

The magnolia branches run through the composition as natural lines, guiding the eye towards the tall Gothic church tower. The organic shapes and fresh colours of the flowers form a striking contrast with the powerful vertical architecture. Warm ochre and earth tones in the tower are surrounded by pink, magenta, violet and blue, giving the image a sense of both harmony and expressiveness.

I live and work as an artist and city guide in Bruges and based this watercolour on my own photograph. Every spring, the magnolias at St John’s Hospital provide a particularly colourful view for a short time. In this composition, I wanted to combine the fleeting beauty of the blossoms with the centuries-old architecture of this historic site.

Transparent layers of watercolour, soft colour transitions and delicate brushstrokes bring the flowers and architecture to life. The work lends an interior a fresh, romantic and distinctly spring-like atmosphere.