Self-Portrait in Clown Costume; Verso: Sketches of the Torsos of Five Nude Women with their Arms Extended

James Ensor|James Ensor

1895 · Graphite · Drawings and Prints

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.

Artist

James Ensor|James Ensor

Date

1895

Medium

Graphite

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Chester Dale Bequest, by exchange, 1999