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)
Crânes et masques, 1888

James Ensor

Crânes et masques, 1888

Sale Date: March 28, 2012

Auction Closed

La cathedrale, 1886

James Ensor

La cathedrale, 1886

Sale Date: March 28, 2012

Auction Closed

Les patineurs (+ Maisonnette à Mariakerke,..., 1889

James Ensor

Les patineurs (+ Maisonnette à Mariakerke,..., 1889

Sale Date: March 13, 2012

Auction Closed

Personnage agenouillé (+ Personnage; double-sided)

James Ensor

Personnage agenouillé (+ Personnage; double-sided)

Sale Date: February 26, 2012

Auction Closed

La mère de l'artiste, 1883–1885

James Ensor

La mère de l'artiste, 1883–1885

Sale Date: March 11, 2012

Auction Closed

Les adieux de Napoléon, 1897

James Ensor

Les adieux de Napoléon, 1897

Sale Date: March 11, 2012

Auction Closed

Iston, Pouffamatus... examinant les selles..., 1886

James Ensor

Iston, Pouffamatus... examinant les selles..., 1886

Sale Date: March 11, 2012

Auction Closed

Nature morte, 1880–1882

James Ensor

Nature morte, 1880–1882

Sale Date: March 11, 2012

Auction Closed

Pêcheur d'Ostende, 1900

James Ensor

Pêcheur d'Ostende, 1900

Sale Date: March 8, 2012

Auction Closed

Le combat, 1896

James Ensor

Le combat, 1896

Sale Date: March 8, 2012

Auction Closed

Trois femmes

James Ensor

Trois femmes

Sale Date: February 14, 2012

Auction Closed

La pêche miraculeuse (+ Salut Jésus roi des...

James Ensor

La pêche miraculeuse (+ Salut Jésus roi des...

Sale Date: February 14, 2012

Auction Closed

L'orage, 1889

James Ensor

L'orage, 1889

Sale Date: February 14, 2012

Auction Closed

Les baigneuses (Lignes courbes et ondulées), 1916

James Ensor

Les baigneuses (Lignes courbes et ondulées), 1916

Sale Date: February 9, 2012

Auction Closed

Coquilles et statuettes, 1934

James Ensor

Coquilles et statuettes, 1934

Sale Date: February 9, 2012

Auction Closed

Le Christ insulté, 1886

James Ensor

Le Christ insulté, 1886

Sale Date: January 17, 2012

Auction Closed

La blague de l'éléphant, 1888

James Ensor

La blague de l'éléphant, 1888

Sale Date: January 17, 2012

Auction Closed

Drankhuis in tonse vrouwtje

James Ensor

Drankhuis in tonse vrouwtje

Sale Date: January 17, 2012

Auction Closed

Personnages, de visages et de chevaux (study;...

James Ensor

Personnages, de visages et de chevaux (study;...

Sale Date: December 6, 2011

Auction Closed

La mère de l'artiste ou La paresse

James Ensor

La mère de l'artiste ou La paresse

Sale Date: December 6, 2011

Auction Closed

Lisière du petit bois, Ostende

James Ensor

Lisière du petit bois, Ostende

Sale Date: December 13, 2011

Auction Closed

Ma soeur Mitche, 1881

James Ensor

Ma soeur Mitche, 1881

Sale Date: December 13, 2011

Auction Closed

Les 7 péchés capitaux et la Mort dominant les...

James Ensor

Les 7 péchés capitaux et la Mort dominant les...

Sale Date: November 23, 2011

Auction Closed

Barques échouées, 1888

James Ensor

Barques échouées, 1888

Sale Date: November 26, 2011

Auction Closed