In autumn 2024, the Museum Plantin-Moretus presents the exhibition Ensor's States of Imagination about Ensor's remarkable graphic adventure. For several years, the young Ensor experimented lavishly with etching techniques. In his own words, "Practice makes perfect! Especially for etching. Experience is lacking and requires repeated trials and efforts."
Ensor soon developed a unique approach to the medium. With predecessors like Rembrandt in mind, Ensor went his own way. His studio became a test lab for experiments where coincidences also played a role.
Ensor's States of Imagination gathers for the first time the most remarkable results of these experiments: preparatory drawings, copper plates and various states of prints. We show unique prints on old paper, vellum and coloured silk. Ensor transforms prints into unique works of art by manually colouring them with pencil, gouache or watercolour. In this way, unexpected details emerge, depth is created in large crowds and new figures take shape.
At the same time, our museum's 18th-century reading room will zoom in on Ensor and Verhaeren through the mini-exhibition Ensor filleted by the dangerous cooks. This mini-exhibition starts from the special Verhaeren collection that we preserve and which - until now - has received little attention. The focus here is Ensor's special drawing Les cuisiniers dangereux from our collection.
In this exhibition, we not only show work from our own collection, but also from some important private collections.
Practical
EXPO | Ensors States of Imagination. Ensor and the graphic experiment: from 28 September 2024 to 18 January 2025
Guided tour
A guided tour makes a group visit to the expo even more fun and interesting. The guide tells all sorts of stories and interesting facts about Einstein’s refugee story. Book your guide.
Workshop: Trial and Ensor
During a creative workshop you will discover at first hand what makes printing, etching or bookbinding a proper craft.
Experiment with intaglio printing – just like Ensor did – and create your own print. In the workshop you first view book illustrations, prints and drawings. Then you’ll learn how to make a drypoint etching as you get to work with plexiglass, ink and a centuries-old etching press. Book your tickets.
Ensor year
In 2024, it will be 75 years since we said goodbye to James Ensor. With the largest Ensor collection in the world, the avant-garde artist lives on in Antwerp.
From September 2024, several Antwerp museums will highlight the artist's oeuvre with a series of ambitious exhibitions. The focus is on Ensor's enduring relevance through cross-pollination with contemporary art, fashion and photography. A perfect match with the range of assets Antwerp has to offer throughout the year.
Discover Ensor from surprising angles, as an innovator and as a game-changer. Because Ensor is so much more than the painter of masks.
