James Ensor

James Ensor (1860-1949), pioneer of modern art, is one of the most important Belgian artists.

Oeuvre

There are approximately 850 paintings known to be by the hand of James Ensor. In technical, iconographical and stylistic respects, Ensor‘s painting oeuvre is extraordinarily diverse.

Before 1887, Ensor often painted very informal, refined realistic studies, seascapes, landscapes, still lifes and modern-genre tableaux. Among these a few undisputed masterpieces are found such as Russian Music (1881), The Oyster-eater (1882) or the Portrait of Willy Finch (1882). In 1887, Ensor chose for a grotesque or satirical depiction of motifs for which he sought inspiration in the Bible, literature, history, contemporary social and artistic life, his personal life, the world of the carnival, commedia dell’arte and ballet. He does this in a contrast-rich and vivid colouration, at times in an expressive design, then at others in a naïve form. He paints but a handful of important landscapes. However, throughout his life Ensor painted a great number of still lifes. Through the introduction of masks, but also by means of a combination of trivial objects, these still lifes obtain a double entendre character.

James Ensor, Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, 1885, MSK Gent, drawing, 1528 mm x 2081 mm x 28 mm, inv. 1963-E - CC0

Painting and drawing are on the same level for him. Among other things, this seems to be apparent from the fact that Ensor also entered drawings for exhibitions as legitimate works of art. Some of his drawings are executed on a large format so that they could further compete with the paintings.

James Ensor, Demons Teasing Me, 1895, MSK Gent, inv. 1998-B92 - CC0

The study of light was one of the central subjects in the artistic debate at the end of the 19th Century. James Ensor also obsessively analysed light and dark. These studies led to the realisation of his first etchings. In his landscapes and cityscapes he concentrated on a correct representation of the atmosphere. By contrast, in a number of other compositions, he allowed fantasy and social critique to take centre stage.

James Ensor picture — picture of James Ensor, Mu.ZEE - Unknown Rightsholder

Biography

The James Ensor website outlines the life of James Ensor and discusses Ensor as a painter, as a draftsman, as a graphic artist, as a musician, and as a writer. It also offers an insight into photographic material from archives and museums.

Read more about the life and work of James Ensor

Collection

The Ensor collections of KMSKA, MSK Ghent, Musea Brugge, Mu.ZEE and Museum Plantin-Moretus can be consulted on the website. Interested in seascapes and landscapes? Or rather a portrait enthusiast? The search results in the database can be further refined using keywords.

In the rubric 'Collection development' we provide insight into the collection's history of our partner musea. In what manner has the very extensive Ensor collection come to be in the musea? Did it happen by purchase, gifts or bequest? And which works were purchased directly from Ensor?

Discover the collection

James Ensor, Ensor at his Easel — CC0, beeld artinflanders.be, photo Hugo Maertens

James Ensor, The White Cloud — CC0, image artinflanders.be, photo Hugo Maertens

James Ensor, The old lady with masks — CC0, image artinflanders.be, photo Hugo Maertens

James Ensor, Music in the Vlaanderenstraat — CC0, image artinflanders.be, photo Hugo Maertens

James Ensor, The Baths at Ostende — CC0, image artinflanders.be, photo Dominique Provost

James Ensor, Skeletons fighting for the Body of a hanged Man, 1891, KMSKA, painting, 74 cm x 59 cm, inv. 1857 - CC0, image artinflanders.be, photo Hugo Maertens

Thematic collection presentations highlight Ensor's oeuvre through various perspectives: interiors, the skeleton motif, masks, marines, cityscapes, still lifes, self-portraits, humor, playing with light and Christ.

Explore the thematic collection presentations

Arthub Ensor: his oeuvre in detail

Arthub Ensor displays the Ensor collections of the KMSKA, MSK Ghent and Musea Brugge in high resolution. On the platform, you can explore the images from the collections in detail and download them for your own use.

View the oeuvre in high resolution

view full-size

Source material

Are you interested in the source material that is available on James Ensor? In the rubric 'Sources' we provide links to the musea, holding libraries and archival institutions that have collected archival material related to the artist and also make them available. We make the distinction amongst Ensor‘s personal archive, a number of related archives and relevant documentary collections.

Find out the source material

James Ensor, The skeleton painter, KMSKA, 1896, Oil on panel, 37,3 cm x 45,3 cm - CC0, image artinflanders.be, photo Hugo Maertens

Research

Within and outside of Flanders, a number of researchers have immersed themselves in the figure of James Ensor and his oeuvre. Art critics, conservators, archivists, literary figures and even chemists have gone in search of answers that are not always apparent to questions that are at first glance evident. Many questions have already been answered, yet many answers still await their completion. Now and then, via our online publications, we also lift a tip of the veil.

More Ensor

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) made a beautiful video series on James Ensor. Watch the first episode below. The entire series is on view at the YouTube channel of the KMSKA.

Ensor in vogelvlucht. Aflevering 1. (KMSKA)

Fascinated by the work of James Ensor?

Visit the website 'James Ensor. An online museum.'

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