Dressing Table with Washstand and Mirror 

James Ensor sketched this "Dressing Table with Washstand and Mirror" using graphite on paper. The drawing presents a complex interplay of light and shadow, created through dense, rhythmic lines. Ensor's use of hatching and cross-hatching builds volume and suggests the textures of various surfaces. The composition is organized around a central mirror, framed by vertical and horizontal elements of the washstand. Ensor's approach reflects a broader artistic movement toward expressing subjective experience rather than objective reality. His mark-making destabilizes the conventional depiction of form, opting instead for a semiotic representation where lines act as signs pointing to objects. The density of the graphite lines challenges the viewer to discern forms within the chaos. It prompts us to consider how art can function as a space for questioning, and whether it provides definitive answers or serves as a mirror, reflecting the complexities of perception and representation.