James Ensor

Capture of a Strange Town, state III (Prise d'une ville étrange)

1888

Etching

Not on view

Ensor's bizarre visions were fueled, from early childhood, by the attic above his family's souvenir shop. He described it as "dark and frightening . . . full of horrible spiders, curios, seashells, plants and animals from distant seas, beautiful chinaware, rust and blood-colored effects, red and white coral, monkeys, turtles, dried mermaids."

Gallery label from

Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities, July 30–November 10, 2008.

Medium Etching
Dimensions composition: 6 3/4 x 9 1/8" (17.2 x 23.2 cm); plate: 7 1/16 x 9 3/8" (17.9 x 23.8 cm); sheet: 14 x 18 7/8" (35.6 x 47.9 cm)
Publisher James Ensor, Brussels
Printer Léon Evely, Brussels
Edition unknown
Credit Purchase
Object number 115.1949
Department Drawings and Prints

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