Gezicht op de kade van Oostende 1887

James Ensor created this print, "View of the Quay of Ostend," using etching. The artwork is dominated by a muted palette, where a range of neutral tones blurs the line between land, sea, and sky. The quivering lines add to the dream-like atmosphere. Ensor challenges the traditional ideals of beauty. The composition is simple, yet evokes a sense of estrangement. The etching technique adds an emotional layer. The scene is not just depicted, but actively constructed through a network of fine, agitated lines that convey motion. The image flirts with chaos, echoing a broader modernist trend of questioning established norms. The way Ensor uses line and tone prompts questions about the nature of representation itself. Does it reflect reality, or construct a new one? As you consider this print, reflect on how its formal qualities provoke new ways of seeing and understanding the world.