Beeld van een chimeara 1888

James Ensor created this etching, “Beeld van een chimeara,” using a technique that democratized image-making. The etching process, involving biting lines into a metal plate with acid, allowed for multiple impressions to be made, a stark contrast to unique paintings or sculptures. It's a method born of industrialisation, enabling the mass production of images. Look closely, and you'll see the delicate web of lines that define the Chimera, a far eastern mythological creature. This emphasis on line betrays the manual labor involved; each one meticulously drawn through a protective ground before being etched. The resulting print, with its subtle tonalities and textures, invites contemplation on the interplay between artistic skill, mechanical reproduction, and cultural exchange. Ensor, by embracing printmaking, challenged the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, engaging with broader social issues of labor, production, and consumption in a rapidly changing world.