Ensor’s States of Imagination

Museum Plantin-Moretus

Vrijdagmarkt 22-23, Antwerp

28/09/2024 – 19/01/2025

Ensor

For the Ensor year, not only the KMSKA (Ensors Stoutste dromen), the M HKA and the MOMU have prepared an exhibition, the Museum Plantin-Moretus is also planning an expo. The museum has a beautiful collection of Ensor’s graphics. One of the first Ensor prints was donated by Ensor himself and the collection now contains more than 200 works by the artist. Other collectors have also been approached for the exhibition. There is even a print from the personal collection of Paul Klee.

Prints and technique

The exhibition brings his experiments with prints together for the first time. He started his graphic experiment at the age of 26. Etching feels to him like drawing with pen and paper. The techniques that have to be applied to the etching plate after drawing require a lot of expertise and experience. He colours the prints by hand with coloured pencils, chalk and watercolours.

If you want to get to know Ensor better, look at his etchings and discover the true artist that he is.

(Emile Verhaeren)

Etching, states and experiment

The title of the exhibition ‘States of Imagination’ comes from the different versions of the etching plate. Each change on the etching plate gives a different print and therefore a different state. He experiments not only with color, but also with the carrier. He has his work printed on, for example, satin and parchment. These are unique prints that are very fragile. They are rarely (long) on ​​display, so enjoy these prints and other prints before they disappear back into storage.

Guided Tours

You will see me there as a guide or to come and look at the works again. If you want a guided tour, you can always indicate this when booking.