The Water Drinker 1884

James Ensor created this drawing, named The Water Drinker, with ink on paper. The stark quality of the lines speaks volumes about the subject's thirst. It suggests that the figure is possibly a laborer, perhaps working in a factory or field, and emphasizes the very physicality and strenuousness of their work. Ensor’s expressive mark-making is a powerful tool, which not only describes the act of drinking, but also alludes to the labor and social context surrounding it. There's an immediacy to the drawing because of the directness of the medium, which gives a sense of the artist's own hand and mind at work. By focusing on the subject, and the act of drinking water, Ensor directs our attention to the fundamental needs and realities of working-class life. It is a reminder that understanding the materials and context of creation can reveal deeper social and political meanings within a work of art.