After the storm 1880

James Ensor created "After the Storm" using oil paint, capturing a seascape where the sky and water blend into one another through turbulent brushstrokes of blues, pinks, and grays. The horizon is barely distinguishable, a low-contrast field, where the formal composition evokes a sense of the sublime, a feeling of awe mixed with dread. Ensor's handling of paint destabilizes the traditional landscape. There is an emphasis on the materiality of the paint itself. The brushwork seems to dissolve any clear distinction between representation and abstraction. Semiotically, the storm could symbolize a period of upheaval, the aftermath a time of reflection. What is most compelling is how the painting challenges our expectations of space and form. The lack of clear lines or defined shapes suggests a world in flux, reminding us that art is not just about replicating reality but also about exploring the very conditions of our perception.