Sick Wretch Warming Himself
Artist / maker
James Ensor (etchers)Date
1895Period
19th centuryCollection
Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
Ensor repeatedly used popular life in Ostend as a subject in paintings, drawings and etchings. He was intrigued by life in the harbour town and in his work the artist openly sympathised with the poor, homeless and tramps, who were hidden from the sight of tourists by the local authorities as much as possible. Several prints testify to Ensor's sympathy…
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Ensor repeatedly used popular life in Ostend as a subject in paintings, drawings and etchings. He was intrigued by life in the harbour town and in his work the artist openly sympathised with the poor, homeless and tramps, who were hidden from the sight of tourists by the local authorities as much as possible. Several prints testify to Ensor's sympathy for these pariahs of society (see inv. 1998-B-91, B-106, B-107 and B-108). Ensor engraved the print "Sick Wretch Warming Himself" after a painting from 1882 (Ostend, Mu.ZEE, destroyed during World War II). There is a pencil drawing of the same image, with the image in mirror image (private collection).
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