Dining Single man 1880 - 1886

James Ensor made this work, Dining Single Man, using pencil on paper. The rapid, sketchy marks are typical of the medium, which is known for its immediacy. Pencil is, of course, a relatively humble material, not usually associated with the high art of painting. Yet it has often been the medium of choice for social commentary, think of the great caricaturists like Daumier. Ensor certainly had a satirical bent, evident in the exaggerated features of the solitary diner and his scavenging dog. You might say that the very directness and simplicity of the pencil lines, which are closer to the hasty note than to the finished picture, give the image its critical edge. The lack of pretension makes the subject of social alienation all the more biting. This reminds us that an artist’s chosen materials are never neutral; they contribute to the work’s meaning and emotional impact.