Ensor at the Harmonium 1933

James Ensor, at some point in his life, painted this crowded, surreal scene of himself at the harmonium. Look how the paint is dabbed and swirled, like he’s building up the image in layers of feeling. I imagine Ensor, brush in hand, hovering over the canvas, trying to capture the madness in his mind. What’s he thinking as he conjures this riotous gathering? Maybe it’s a reflection of the cacophony of life, or the absurdity of society. The faces, some masked, some leering, seem to press in from all sides. That swirling stroke around the harmonium player's head—it's like a halo of madness or inspiration, depending on your mood. Ensor’s always playing with these themes of performance, identity, and the grotesque, right? He’s part of a long line of artists who use the canvas to wrestle with the big questions, inspiring us to look closer, to question everything, and maybe even to embrace the chaos.