Envy 1904

James Ensor, made this, ‘Envy’ sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, using etching, drypoint, and hand-colouring. Look at how he's scratched into the surface, and how he’s used color so sparsely; it’s like he wants to deny you any easy pleasure! I can only imagine him hunched over a plate, armed with his tools, coaxing this image into existence, line by line. Each scratch, each swipe of color, a deliberate act of rebellion against sentimentality. The figures, all twisted expressions and grotesque features, stare with a palpable mix of curiosity and malice. A young family emanates light. It’s as if Ensor is saying, "Here, look at what you desire, what you can never have!” It's a complex emotion that many artists have explored. Think of Goya’s dark visions, or even some of the more unsettling works by Munch. Ensor’s 'Envy’ isn’t just a painting, it’s an invitation to confront the shadows within ourselves, and that’s what makes it so compelling.