The Ascension 1921

James Ensor made this drawing, “The Ascension”, with pastel crayons, and the feeling is like a dream. I can imagine him bent over the paper, pressing down hard with the orange crayon, then moving to the blue and yellow, making marks that create a vibrant, shimmering effect. I love how the colors aren't blended smoothly but are left separate, allowing your eyes to do the mixing. Ensor must have felt the lightness, maybe even the humor, in this scene of floating figures. The upward thrust of lines behind the main figure, like a beam of light, almost lifts the person off the page. I think of other artists who play with light and dark like Turner, or the spiritual explorations of someone like Hilma af Klint. It’s like they’re all in this big art conversation through time. And aren't we all looking for a way up? I love that painting lets us see that search, full of doubts and different possibilities.