James Ensor - sinister sans surreal

James Sidney Edouard, Baron Ensor (April 13, 1860 – November 19, 1949) was a Belgian painter and printmaker who had ties to both the expressionists and impressionists as well as the old flemish painters of yester-year. He creates astoundingly sinister masked figures and makes them look relatively normal. However good the masks are, I cannot help but find the 'Skeletons fighting over a pickled herring' the most unnerving and jovial at the same time, a brilliant portrayal of an unexpected subject.

Skeletons fighting over a pickled herring


The intrigue


Scandelized Masks


Entry of Christ into Brussels