James Ensor
Skeletons in the Studio
1900
In this scene, Ensor assembles exotic masks, Asian objects, and seemingly animate clothed skeletons in a corner of his studio. These mystifying details are recurring elements in the artist’s paintings and only their adjacency to commonplace objects alleviates the disquieting atmosphere. The jumbled collection of curios recall his mother’s souvenir shop, which was below the artist’s studio, in Ostend, Belgium.
Artist
Title
Skeletons in the Studio
Date
1900
Medium
Painting
Materials
oil on canvasDimensions
111 x 79.5 cm
Nationality
Belgian
Credit line
Purchased 1981
Accession number
23976