Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks) 1889

James Ensor painted "Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks)" sometime around 1930. Ensor, who was Belgian, often used masks in his art, seeing them as symbols of the superficiality and hypocrisy he found in society. In this painting, we see an older woman surrounded by a variety of masks. The woman is likely a member of Ensor's family and is set apart from the masks, a portrait among caricatures. It raises questions about how we perceive others and the roles they play in social situations. Are they authentic or are they hiding behind a mask? Painted during a time of significant social and political change, "Old Woman with Masks" invites us to reflect on the nature of identity and the ways in which we construct our public personas. To understand this work better, look into Belgian history and consider the writings of other artists and intellectuals of the time. You might consider how museums and galleries at the time displayed the works, as institutions are also responsible for shaping our understanding of art. In this way, we can come to a deeper appreciation of the social and institutional context in which art is created and interpreted.