mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
He’s more than just a footnote in They Might Be Giants’ lengthy songbook (”Meet James Ensor, Belgium’s famous painter / Dig him up and shake his hand / Understand the man”), he was also a turn-of-the-century genius of the canvas, an agoraphobic mama’s boy and one hilariously morbid dude. Obsessed with death, bizarre masks and skeletons, we wanted to share some of Ensor’s skeletal work with all of you.
Skeletons Trying to Warm Themselves, 1889
My Portrait in the Year 1960, 1888
The Skeleton Painter, 1886
Why the obsession with death? We can only speculate, but we think Ensor’s personal business card says it all — and also that he didn’t take himself too seriously:
Comments (8)
Comment
I must be a sick puppy but this is a riot!
posted by Jane on 4-18-2007 at 2:35 pm
These are morbidly endearing, and his business card is oddly funny. I couldn’t help but giggle a little.
posted by heather on 4-18-2007 at 8:25 pm
Two years ago I put together an exhibit for a Dia de los Muertos Celebration in my art gallery. As many of you will know skeletons are an essential element of the day. In doing so my appreciation of this view of us as what we become increased dramatically.
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing it.
posted by altArtifact on 4-18-2007 at 10:58 pm
To think that mental_floss to manage to do something to make me like you even more. Quote TMBG and Meet James Ensor at that certainly does it. Anyone who doesn’t know their music really should check it out.
posted by Ben on 4-18-2007 at 11:24 pm
If anyone is in the L.A. area they should check out the the Getty Center. They have one of Ensor’s best pieces: Christ’s Entry into Brussels in 1889. It’s 99 1/2 x 169 1/2 inches!
posted by JAcob on 4-19-2007 at 9:05 am
The Giants Rock! If you havne’t heard them, listen to them! You will hate them the first time around, and fall in love the second. An especially great song: Birdhouse in your Soul. From Particle Man: “Is he a dot, or is a speck? When he’s underwater, does he get wet? Or, does the water get him instead? Nobody knows. Particle Man.” Pure genius!
posted by Tommy on 4-19-2007 at 10:10 am
Agreed with Jacob. “Christ’s Entry into Brussels” is an incredible painting done on a monumental scale. Well worth checking out.
posted by Casey on 4-19-2007 at 11:23 am
Those would have made for some great Grateful Dead album covers…
posted by Edward on 4-22-2007 at 5:25 pm