Stallion 

James Ensor created this drawing of a stallion with graphite on paper sometime during his career. Ensor, living through the rapid transformations of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Belgium, often explored themes of identity and societal critique in his work. Here, the stallion stands as a symbol of virility and untamed power, yet it's rendered with a fragility that complicates its forceful presence. The sketch-like quality and soft shading make it seem as though the stallion could disappear at any moment. Perhaps Ensor is commenting on the fleeting nature of power and the ways in which traditional symbols of masculinity were being challenged during his time. Consider how Ensor captures the emotional and psychological state of both the animal and the viewer through his drawing. What does it mean to depict such a potent figure with such vulnerability? Think about how this image resonates with broader questions about gender, identity, and representation.