James Ensor and the Graphic Experiment

James Ensor and the Graphic Experiment by Willemijn Stammis, Ad Stijnman, Herwig Todts explores the fascinating world of James Ensor (1860–1949), a Belgian painter renowned for his provocative and innovative works. Often featuring masks and grotesque figures, Ensor used mediums such as etching and lithography to delve into themes of existential exploration and the macabre.

His graphic oeuvre demonstrates his mastery of line and form, drawing us into a universe where masks, skeletons, and surreal landscapes converge. These pieces challenge conventions and provoke thought. The book addresses how Ensor made prints, the techniques he employed, and the old masters who inspired him. It examines how he experimented with this medium.

James Ensor and the Graphic Experiment brings together the most remarkable results of Ensor's graphic experiments, including preparatory drawings, copper plates, and various states of prints.

AUTHORS: Willemijn Stammis is the curator of modern and contemporary prints and drawings at Museum Plantin-Moretus. Ad Stijnman is a professional printmaker and an independent scholar specialising in historical printmaking processes, particularly manual intaglio printmaking techniques. Herwig Todts is an art historian and senior curator of modern art at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

SELLING POINTS:

• Published to accompany the exhibition Ensor's States of Imagination at Museum Plantin-Moretus, Antwerp, Belgium, from September 24 2024 to January 5 2025
• Features 100 colour illustrations