Naaister 1917 - 1918

James Ensor made this etching, Naaister, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries; it’s all lines and hatching, and, as such, he captures a woman sewing. I love the way the room almost vibrates with the tension of all those marks. You can feel the quiet hum of domestic life – the clink of a teacup, the soft scratch of needle on fabric. It’s so intimate, like we’re peeking into a private moment. I wonder what she’s making, what thoughts are running through her mind as she stitches away. The composition is interesting, too – how Ensor places her in this nook, framed by the walls, almost like she’s in her own little world. The light feels gentle, diffused, and I imagine it was like she was there, in a moment of quiet industry. It’s almost as if I’m right there with her, sharing a cup of tea and the companionable silence of shared space.