Self-Portrait with Masks 1899

James Ensor’s *Self-Portrait with Masks* (1899) is a prime example of the artist's signature style, symbolist expressionism. The painting depicts the artist surrounded by a multitude of grotesque, carnivalesque figures. Ensor's self-portrait is central, yet the faces around him blur the lines between reality and illusion. The chaotic composition and vivid colors reflect the artist's fascination with the irrational and his critique of societal hypocrisy. *Self-Portrait with Masks* is currently on display at the Menard Art Museum in Komaki, Japan.