Miamia 1929

James Ensor made this drawing, Miamia, with crayon, and you can really see the process. It's like he's thinking out loud on paper. The colors are so immediate, like a quick sketch, but the character is pretty fleshed out. I mean, look at how the textures come alive! The ruffled collar, those layers of her dress, that little figure she’s holding - it all feels so touchable, even though it’s just crayon on paper. The way the red crayon bleeds a little gives a sense of the movement in the ruffles and folds of the costume. Ensor reminds me of other artists who just went for it, like Guston. This feels like a costume design, but maybe it's also a peek into Ensor's imagination. It's like he’s inviting us to play, and that’s something that always keeps me hooked.