Woman with Upturned Nose 1879

James Ensor painted "Woman with Upturned Nose" using oil on canvas in Belgium around 1879. Ensor was an innovator, and his work often engages with the rapidly changing social and political landscape of late 19th-century Europe. This portrait may seem straightforward, but even its title suggests a critical viewpoint. The woman’s upturned nose, a feature often associated with haughtiness, invites the viewer to consider the relationship between appearance, social class, and individual identity. Ensor's loose brushwork and somewhat unconventional style challenge the traditional portraiture conventions upheld by the art institutions of his time. To understand Ensor's work more fully, we can look at exhibition records, letters, and critical reviews from his period. By situating this painting within its historical context, we appreciate how Ensor challenged social norms and disrupted the established artistic order. Ultimately, art history teaches us that meaning is not fixed; it evolves as society changes and new perspectives emerge.