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

James Ensor Belgian
 Sitter James Ensor Belgian

Not on view

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.

Self-Portrait in Clown Costume; Verso: Sketches of the Torsos of Five Nude Women with their Arms Extended, James Ensor (Belgian, Ostend 1860–1949 Ostend), Graphite

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Self-Portrait in Clown Costume; Verso: Sketches of the Torsos of Five Nude Women with their Arms Extended, James Ensor (Belgian, Ostend 1860–1949 Ostend), Graphite
Self-Portrait in Clown Costume; Verso: Sketches of the Torsos of Five Nude Women with their Arms Extended, James Ensor (Belgian, Ostend 1860–1949 Ostend), Graphite

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