bs-ahp- Katherine Nilsson- Ruede Ursulane- Quebec City Katherine Nilsson

The watercolor presents a densely packed urban scene, dominated by tightly clustered buildings rising towards a sky suffused with muted light. The composition is characterized by a deliberate flattening of perspective; depth is suggested not through traditional vanishing points but through overlapping planes and variations in color intensity. Buildings are rendered as geometric blocks, their architectural details simplified to essential forms – windows appear as rectangular voids, balconies jut out as flat projections, and roofs are sharply angled.
A striking palette defines the work. Predominantly cool tones – blues, purples, and violets – are juxtaposed with warmer hues of orange, yellow, and pink. This chromatic interplay creates a sense of visual vibrancy while simultaneously contributing to an overall feeling of melancholy or introspection. The colors are not applied realistically; instead, they seem chosen for their expressive potential, evoking a mood rather than replicating observed reality.
The sky occupies the upper portion of the canvas, its diffused light suggesting either dawn or dusk. This atmospheric quality lends a sense of quietude to the scene, contrasting with the apparent density and complexity of the buildings below. The lower section is partially obscured by shadow, further emphasizing the verticality of the structures and creating a visual anchor for the composition.
The artist’s technique involves broad washes of color, allowing them to bleed and blend into one another. This creates a soft-edged quality that softens the geometric forms and contributes to the paintings dreamlike atmosphere. The deliberate lack of fine detail encourages the viewer to engage with the work on an emotional level, rather than focusing on precise representation.
Subtly embedded within this visual arrangement is a sense of confinement or enclosure. The buildings press in upon one another, creating a feeling of urban density and perhaps even suggesting a psychological state of being trapped or overwhelmed. The limited visibility beyond the immediate structures hints at a world that exists just out of reach, adding to the overall mood of quiet contemplation.