James Ensor: The Complete Paintings [11/30/2009] Xavier Tricot

by Ingrid Pfeiffer

"Belgian painter James Ensor (1860-1949) created a body of work that is comical, ironic and profound, which can be interpreted in many ways.' To a large degree his work is self-referential, both foreshadowing and reflecting back upon itself and containing many simultaneous strands of development and parallel phenomena." Ensor's unusual motifs, which became distinctive symbols for the absurdity of life, have fascinated and influenced other artists from all other periods since then in view of new tendencies in contemporary art such as the manifestation of the grotesque and comic, Ensor's work is yet again current. Featuring almost 80 masterpieces on canvas and over no works on paper-both drawings and prints - this monograph presents key works from all periods of his career. Special focus is given to the artist's later works, which have long been neglected by art historians.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mark Desrosiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the essays veer into irritating artcrit-jargon territory (not to mention the semioticians lurking in the T.O.C.), but on the whole it's a wonderful compendium of his career: great reproductions, plus a vivid depiction of a very odd artistic life. Definitely one of my all-time favorite painters, and I love him even more after absorbing this.

Oh and here's a quote from Ensor himself about his choice of palette:

Drenched in British purples, I have offered up my tones: pigeon breast, hind belly, balky mule lung, monkey bottom pink, lapis lazuli and malachite, excited nymph thigh, panther pee-pee, high-smelling hen hair, hedgehog in aspic, barrel-maker's brothel, revered rose, monkeybush, turkey-like white, sly violet, page's slipper, immaculate nun spring, unspeakable red, Ensor azure, affected yellow, mummy skull, rock-hard gray, brunt celadon, shop soiled smoke ring.