Schedels en maskers 1888

"Schedels en maskers" (Skulls and Masks) is an 1888 etching by Belgian artist James Ensor. The artwork depicts a still life composition of several skulls arranged in a row, with a grotesque mask visible in the center of the image. Ensor's works, known for their unsettling and satirical nature, often dealt with themes of death, societal hypocrisy, and the macabre. This etching, with its stark imagery of skulls, reflects Ensor's fascination with mortality and the transience of life. The technique of etching, a traditional printmaking process, adds to the artwork's austere and evocative character.