Rue Neuve in Bruges 

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky rendered this watercolor street view, capturing the melancholic essence of Bruges. Notice the statue mounted on the corner, bathed in the muted light of a grey day. Such figures often represented patron saints, protectors of the city. These sculptural elements, once vibrant with religious significance, now stand silently, witnessing the ebb and flow of time. In classical antiquity, similar figures marked boundaries and sacred spaces. The Romans placed Lares at crossroads, guardians of home and community. Over centuries, the meaning of these figures evolved, shaped by changing beliefs. Yet, the impulse remains: to imbue our spaces with protective presences. Dobuzhinsky captures the quiet yearning for continuity embedded in these symbols, their silent vigil over the streets of Bruges connecting us to generations past.