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The Royal Academy of Arts in London is now presenting major exhibition of works by James Ensor — one of the most prominent Belgium modernist artists and a notable precursor of Expressionism. His family’s curio shop and annual carnivals in Ostend formed his extravagant seeing. Intrigue: James Ensor brings together some 70 paintings drawn from major Belgian collections.
This is the first retrospective of James Ensor in the UK in twenty years.
Ensor was extraordinary and highly skilled draughtsman and painter. His eclectic visual language drew upon a variety of subjects from the traditional to the fantastic. His works wonderfully combined the poetics of the Belgian countryside with strange visions of imaginary worlds.
Paintings of Ensor are still confusing,they intrigue and defy categorization,positioning his author as one of the singular figures in fine arts at the turn of the twentieth century.
James Ensor(1860−1949) was born in the Belgium coastal town of Ostend to an English father and a Belgian mother. His family ran a curio shop which he described as "an inextricable jumble of assorted objects constantly being knocked over by a number of cats,deafening parrots,and a monkey…".
From this somewhat eccentric environment,as well as Ostend’s annual carnivals and the archaeological excavations at the time,Ensor drew much of his artistic imagery — such as masks,theatrical costumes and skulls. In 1908 poet Émile Verhaeren referred to Ensor as "the painter of masks."
James Ensor,Self-portrait with Flowered Hat,1883.
The artist wrote,"The mask means to me: freshness of colour,extravagant decorations,wild generous gestures,strident expressions,exquisite turbulence."
When studying at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels,Ensor was an outsider who rebelled against traditional teachings. His interest was drawn to the avant-garde
Avant-garde is how modern art critics refer the general trend of new artistic directions that arose in world art at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. A very thin line separates it from the concept of “modernism”. Read more
salons of artists and intellectuals at the time,environment in which he flourished. Heartened by his associates,Ensor returned to Ostend in 1880 where he remained for the rest of his life.
In 1883 he became one of the co-founders of the progressive artist group "Les XX" or "Les Vingt"(twenty). Yet even this extremely avant-garde
Avant-garde is how modern art critics refer the general trend of new artistic directions that arose in world art at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. A very thin line separates it from the concept of “modernism”. Read more
group proved too safe for Ensor. He increasingly isolated himself from the external world and remained committed,throughout his long career,to his individual style.
In 1929,after his first major retrospective in Brussels,Ensor was granted the title of Baron. He died 20 years later,not having lived only five months before his 90th anniversary.
Exhibition Intrigue: James Ensor presents the whole spectrum of works,including a selection of significant paintings,drawings and prints,some of which being exhibited for the first time in the UK. Three of Ensor’s most important paintings stand out particularly. The first one is The Intrigue,(1890,Royal Museum of Fine Arts,Antwerp), which depicts a newly-wed couple encircled by sinister masked figures. The second one is a powerful,enigmatic still life The Skate,(1892) from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts,Brussels. And the third one is Self-portrait with Flowered Hat, 1883 from Mu. Zee,Ostend. It is a humorous reference to Peter Paul Rubens' Portrait of Susanna Lunden(National Gallery,London) of 1622.
James Ensor, The Artist Surrounded by Evil Spirits,1898.
Exhibition Intrigue: James Ensor at the Royal Academy of Arts will last until January 29th,2017.
Written by Vlad Maslow on materials by The Royal Academy of Arts official website and artdaily.com. Main illustration: James Ensor,The Skeleton Painter,1896.
