Recovering 

James Ensor sketched 'Recovering', using ink, at an unknown date. Ensor was a Belgian artist who often explored themes of sickness, death, and societal critique in his works, reflecting the anxieties of his time. The image creates a sense of vulnerability through the woman's weary expression and her posture suggesting convalescence. The loose, gestural lines give the drawing a sense of immediacy and emotional rawness. Made in Belgium, a country undergoing rapid industrialization and social change, this drawing could be seen as a reflection on the fragility of human life amidst these transformations. The intimate setting suggests domesticity and care, but Ensor's style injects a sense of unease, perhaps commenting on the hidden struggles within the bourgeois home. To fully understand Ensor's work, we turn to historical sources, exploring the medical practices, social attitudes towards illness, and the artist's biography. By doing so, we gain insight into the complex interplay between art, society, and individual experience.