Zelfportret en figuren – Ensor en zijn familie 1886

This drawing, "Self-Portrait and Figures – Ensor and his Family" was created in 1886 by James Ensor. Note how the artist uses red and black crayon to create a jumble of figures. A light tan ground is visible through the hatching marks of the crayon. Ensor’s technique is significant here: the use of dense, overlapping lines creates a sense of claustrophobia, trapping the figures within a tight, undefined space. This approach reflects a destabilization of traditional portraiture, where clarity and order are typically valued. The figures themselves appear to be caught in a moment of unease, their expressions ambiguous. Ensor uses the formal elements of line and color to explore the psychological complexity, which invites us to question conventional representations of family and identity. The sketch is not a clear depiction of the figures, but creates a sense of instability. Ensor challenges the viewer, disrupting fixed meanings.