Ornament – Head of a monster 

This is James Ensor's sketch of the Head of a Monster. Ensor was a Belgian artist living through a time of great social change. He witnessed the rise of industrialization and the tensions of class division. What we see here is a monster’s head affixed to what looks like a grotesque ornament. But consider how Ensor often used masks and grotesque figures to critique the bourgeoisie. This piece might reflect his feelings about the monstrous excesses of the upper class. Ensor, in many ways, was an outsider. He expressed feelings of alienation and criticism towards the society in which he lived. This drawing is a window into his personal struggles with identity and belonging, as well as his broader critique of societal values. It speaks to the emotional experience of feeling like an outsider, an experience that resonates across different identities and social contexts.