Hippogriff, Evil Spirits, Interior Elements c. 1880 - 1883

James Ensor created this drawing with pencil, ink and charcoal, combining fantastic creatures with interior elements. It is an image that presents real challenges for those who want to understand the social and cultural context of the image. The macabre and the grotesque are key features of Ensor’s work. Made in Belgium around the turn of the 20th Century, this particular drawing speaks to a culture in which, on the one hand, rapid industrialization and colonialism were remaking society, and on the other, Symbolist and Decadent artists were turning to the irrational, the morbid, and the psychological. Institutional histories of the art world are key here too, as Ensor helped found Les XX, a group of artists who rebelled against the academic conservatism of the Brussels Salon. To better understand this artwork, look for the artist's letters and personal documents that might shed light on the artist's creative process and social context. Through historical research, we can develop a richer understanding of the forces that shaped his art.