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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.
Painting and drawing are on the same level for Ensor. 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.
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.
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.
On the collection website, you can explore the images from the collections of KMSKA, Mu.ZEE, MSK Gent en Musea Brugge in detail and download them for your own use.
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) created 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.
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