Artwork Page for The Cathedral

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The Cathedral

1886

James Ensor

(Belgian, 1860–1949)
Culture
Belgium, 19th century
Medium
etching
Support
Wove paper
Measurements
Sheet: 31 x 22.4 cm (12 3/16 x 8 13/16 in.); Platemark: 24.2 x 18.8 cm (9 1/2 x 7 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 2003.46
Catalogue raisonné
Taevernier 7
State
I/III (first state of the first version)
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

This etching was Ensor’s most popular, and he eventually issued it in two versions; the Cleveland Museum of Art's rare impression is among the first that he printed.

Description

James Ensor used tiny, repetitive marks possible with etching to develop a new, expressive style that contrasted with that of most of his contemporaries. The Gothic architecture, worn facade, and overwhelming scale of the cathedral seen here in exacting detail show that it has withstood the test of time. Ensor juxtaposed the building with a dense crowd of grotesque figures that push forward seemingly irrationally, presenting a symbolic contrast between their whims and the permanence of both the church and the past.
A vertically oriented fine-line print depicts a large, intricately designed cathedral and a dense crowd in the foreground.

The Cathedral

1886

James Ensor

(Belgian, 1860–1949)
Belgium, 19th century

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