Self-Portrait in Clown Costume; Verso: Sketches of the Torsos of Five Nude Women with their Arms Extended
Known primarily for his paintings of skeletons and his raw style, James Ensor was also a dedicated self-portraitist, following the models of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, two artists he greatly admired. Here, Ensor turned his signature interest in costumes and masquerade onto himself, dressed as the clown Pierrot, a stock character from the commedia dell'arte. As a young man, Ensor had earned the nickname "Pierrot la mort" ("Dead Pierrot") because of his morbid and eccentric personality.
Artwork Details
- Title: Self-Portrait in Clown Costume; Verso: Sketches of the Torsos of Five Nude Women with their Arms Extended
- Artist: James Ensor (Belgian, Ostend 1860–1949 Ostend)
- Sitter: James Ensor (Belgian, Ostend 1860–1949 Ostend)
- Date: 1895
- Medium: Graphite
- Dimensions: 9 x 6-3/4 in. (22.9 x 17.1 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Chester Dale Bequest, by exchange, 1999
- Object Number: 1999.129
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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