De molenduivel 1934

This image, ‘De molenduivel’, was made in 1934 by James Ensor and it looks like it was made with ink. What I notice first is the kind of frantic energy of the marks. It reminds me of automatic drawing; there’s a freedom to the lines that suggests Ensor was working quickly, letting his hand and mind go where they wanted. Look at the way the lines build up to create form and depth. The drawing style is really immediate and confident. I love how Ensor uses the ink to create a kind of fantastical, dreamlike space. There's something about the lightness of touch, the way the ink hovers on the surface, that creates a sense of impermanence. It’s as if the whole scene could dissolve at any moment. Ensor reminds me a little of Alfred Jarry, who also combined satire and the absurd. For me, Ensor’s work is all about embracing the messiness and ambiguity of life, and finding beauty in unexpected places.