The Assassination 1888

James Ensor made this colour etching, titled "The Assassination," to disorient and unsettle us. The composition centers on a starkly lit table where a body lies, surrounded by grotesque figures, their features exaggerated into caricatures. Ensor's use of colour is intentionally jarring, with reds and yellows clashing against muted tones. The figures, with their mask-like faces, seem to perform a macabre play, their gestures stiff and unnatural. The overall effect is one of chaos and mockery. This etching can be seen as Ensor's commentary on society, where appearances often mask darker realities. The exaggerated features and grotesque actions of the figures challenge our expectations of order and decorum. Ensor uses these formal elements to question the values and structures of his time, inviting us to reconsider the world around us.