Ensor’s Mother Sleeping 1915

James Ensor made this drawing of his mother sleeping with what looks like colored pencils, giving it a soft, dreamlike quality. The marks are linear, almost scribbled, showing the artmaking process right on the surface. I love how Ensor captures the stillness of sleep through these delicate, almost hesitant lines. The texture feels soft, like the fabric draped over her form. The colors—mostly muted pinks and grays—add to this sense of quietude, but there are darker marks that hint at something deeper, maybe even a little melancholic. Look at the way the color pools around her face, it's like he's trying to capture not just her appearance, but the very essence of her presence. Ensor often explored themes of intimacy and domestic life. You might see a similar sensitivity in the work of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also depicted the quiet moments of everyday life with a similar tenderness and honesty. Art is such a wonderful conversation across time, isn't it?