Zelfportret, Baron James Ensor, zijn duivel, zijn wapenschild 1934

Editor: This is "Self-Portrait, Baron James Ensor, His Devil, His Coat-of-Arms," a drawing made with colored pencils and pastels by James Ensor in 1934. The colours are quite muted and pastel-like, creating a surreal feel. What stylistic choices strike you when looking at this drawing? Curator: The overall composition emphasizes a flattening of perspective. Observe how the spatial relationships between the subject and background are deliberately ambiguous. Ensor uses line and colour to deny the viewer any sense of depth; the result is an intricate but somewhat unsettling design. What is your interpretation of the chromatic handling? Editor: I see a deliberate use of pale colours. There's no vivid contrast to bring out shadows and mass in the face. It seems as though colour is being used decoratively and emotionally more than descriptively. Curator: Precisely. Consider also the execution of the facial features; the linear contours and slightly exaggerated eyes. The coat of arms in the upper-right contributes further symbolic layers. Editor: The lack of detail in the body does make the eyes stand out a little bit more and almost brings this element of surrealism with the muted colour scheme together, like it's the main focus point, in contrast with the upper details of the coat of arms in the background. Curator: It offers a unique engagement with the symbolic image that makes this drawing compelling. By looking at Ensor's line, shape and composition and how they play against and enhance each other we find real expression. Editor: Yes, I understand better now how a formal approach allows us to notice things about the artwork that help our understanding.