Lion 

James Ensor rendered this lion with pen and ink sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The immediacy of the medium is very apparent in the drawing. Look closely, and you'll see that Ensor used quick, unblended strokes to create form, shadow, and texture. The traditional technique and materials of pen and ink drawing, elevated to high art status during the Renaissance, are here employed to capture a sense of wildness. The frenetic energy of Ensor's marks evokes the raw power of this beast. He masterfully controls the ink, allowing it to pool in certain areas to create depth, while using lighter, more delicate strokes to suggest the lion's flowing mane. Ultimately, this lion embodies Ensor's unique vision, blurring the lines between traditional fine art and the more intimate, personal expression often associated with drawing. The power of this work lies in Ensor's ability to harness the inherent qualities of ink and paper to bring the animal to life.