James Ensor (1860–1949) was a Belgian artist renowned for his vivid and often unsettling works that blend surrealism, grotesque imagery, and sharp social commentary.

Throughout his career, Ensor explored themes of death, human folly, and societal masks, using motifs like skeletons, masks, and distorted figures to depict the fragility of human existence. His work frequently challenged conventional artistic norms, merging mythological, religious, and folk imagery with contemporary issues.

Ensor’s style ranged from eerie, dreamlike scenes to biting critiques of bourgeois society, and his ability to fuse the fantastical with the everyday made him a precursor to surrealism. His striking visual language remains influential, offering a complex commentary on the absurdity of life, human mortality, and the roles we play within social structures. Whether through masks, skeletons, or nightmarish landscapes, Ensor’s work is a powerful exploration of the tensions between the real and the imagined.

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