Ensor

Enter the ominous and enigmatic world of masks, the macabre, and mockery as we explore Belgian maverick James Ensor’s unique repertoire of ghoulish scenes and gallows humor. An Expressionist before the term was even coined, Ensor continues to influence generations of artists through his distinctively dark satire, which drew on a rich stylistic repertoire from the Gothic fantastical to the Christian visionary.An Expressionist before the term was coined, James Ensor (1860–1949) was the classic insider-outsider enigma. He knew all the right art-world figures but loathed most of them. His style lurched from the Gothic fantastical to the Christian visionary. He was a cosmopolitan trailblazer of modernism, but lived reclusively in an attic room in the resort town of Ostend. For all his elusiveness, Ensor influenced generations of artists through his vivid often gruesome paintings, prints, and drawings. He is cited in particular for his use of dark satire and allegory, his innovative lighting