Biljartspelende geraamten 1903

"Biljartspelende geraamten" (Skeletons Playing Billiards) is a 1903 drawing by Belgian artist James Ensor, known for his use of grotesque imagery and social commentary. The work depicts a group of skeletons engaging in the seemingly mundane activity of billiards, highlighting the inevitability of death and its presence even in leisure activities. Ensor's style in this sketch is characterized by loose, gestural lines, and a sense of frantic energy, as if the skeletons are caught in a moment of frenetic play. The inclusion of the artist's signature "ENSOR" in the lower right corner adds a personal touch to this darkly humorous work.