Landschap met populieren aan het water 1889

James Ensor made this print of poplars by the water, using etching in the late 19th century. The image is seemingly simple, almost a snapshot of nature, but it connects to a bigger story about how art was viewed at the time. Made in Belgium, this scene taps into the long tradition of landscape art. But Ensor wasn't just copying nature. Instead, he used light and shadow to evoke a feeling. It's like he's showing us not just what the landscape looked like, but also how it felt to be there. We can consider how the art institutions of the time influenced Ensor. Was he trying to fit in, or was he challenging what people thought art should be? To really understand Ensor, you can dig into the art criticism of his day and look at the changing ideas about what art should do. Art isn't just about beauty. It's a reflection of the world around us, shaped by the artist's vision and the society in which they lived.