James Ensor

(Belgian, 1860–1949)

James Ensor was a Belgian painter and important influence known for his macabre and brightly colored depictions of masked skeletons, seascapes, and carnivals. In works such as Christ’s Entry into Brussels in 1889 (1888), Ensor explored both autobiographical and social themes through thickly painted patches of color and grotesque caricatures. “Medicinal sea, west-national sea, adored mother, I want in a fresh bouquet, without surrealist ways, to celebrate your one hundred faces, your surfaces, your facets, your dimples, your Rubescent bottoms, your diamond crests, your sapphire tops, your qualities, your delights, your profound charms,” he once mused. Born on April 13, 1860 in Ostend, Belgium, Ensor went on to study at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, where he rebelled against the strict instruction and befriended like-minded students such as Théo van Rysselberghe. After selling the entire contents of his studio in the 1890s do to a personal crisis, Ensor was resolute to give up painting, though he returned to it after only a few short years. By the early 20th century, he had become widely known throughout Europe by artists such as Paul KleeGeorge Grosz, and Alfred Kubin. Ensor died on November 19, 1949 in Ostend, Belgium. Today, the artist’s works are held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, and the Tate Gallery in London, among others.

James Ensor Artworks

James Ensor (4,479 results)
The orchard, 1886–1888

James Ensor

The orchard, 1886–1888

Sale Date: July 2, 2002

Auction Closed

L'avarice, 1904–1904

James Ensor

L'avarice, 1904–1904

Sale Date: June 28, 2002

Auction Closed

Crânes et masques, 1888–1888

James Ensor

Crânes et masques, 1888–1888

Sale Date: June 28, 2002

Auction Closed

Mon portrait en 1960, 1888–1888

James Ensor

Mon portrait en 1960, 1888–1888

Sale Date: June 28, 2002

Auction Closed

Les sacripants, 1896–1896

James Ensor

Les sacripants, 1896–1896

Sale Date: June 28, 2002

Auction Closed

Le meuble hanté, 1888–1888

James Ensor

Le meuble hanté, 1888–1888

Sale Date: June 28, 2002

Auction Closed

L'écorché, 1888–1888

James Ensor

L'écorché, 1888–1888

Sale Date: June 28, 2002

Auction Closed

Projet d'une affiche pour un ballet

James Ensor

Projet d'une affiche pour un ballet

Sale Date: June 27, 2002

Auction Closed

Les pochards, 1910–1910

James Ensor

Les pochards, 1910–1910

Sale Date: June 26, 2002

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Le cabinet japonais, 1880–1883

James Ensor

Le cabinet japonais, 1880–1883

Sale Date: June 20, 2002

Auction Closed

L'archer terrible (Le mauvais rêve), 1888–1888

James Ensor

L'archer terrible (Le mauvais rêve), 1888–1888

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Plage de La Panne, 1904–1904

James Ensor

Plage de La Panne, 1904–1904

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Les cataclysmes, 1888–1888

James Ensor

Les cataclysmes, 1888–1888

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Petites figures bizarres (Mes amis..., 1888–1888

James Ensor

Petites figures bizarres (Mes amis..., 1888–1888

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Le bal fantastique, 1889–1889

James Ensor

Le bal fantastique, 1889–1889

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Triomphe romain, 1889–1889

James Ensor

Triomphe romain, 1889–1889

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Peste dessous, peste dessus, peste..., 1904–1904

James Ensor

Peste dessous, peste dessus, peste..., 1904–1904

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Scènes de la vie du Christ, 1912–1921

James Ensor

Scènes de la vie du Christ, 1912–1921

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

L'orage, 1889–1889

James Ensor

L'orage, 1889–1889

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Scène biblique ou historique, 1877–1877

James Ensor

Scène biblique ou historique, 1877–1877

Sale Date: June 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Chinois à l'éventail

James Ensor

Chinois à l'éventail

Sale Date: June 10, 2002

Auction Closed

Petit vue de Mariakerke, 1887–1887

James Ensor

Petit vue de Mariakerke, 1887–1887

Sale Date: May 31, 2002

Auction Closed

Triomphe romain, 1889–1889

James Ensor

Triomphe romain, 1889–1889

Sale Date: May 24, 2002

Auction Closed

La vengeance de hop frog, 1898–1898

James Ensor

La vengeance de hop frog, 1898–1898

Sale Date: May 14, 2002

Auction Closed