Portrait of a Man 

Here is a black and white pencil drawing, titled 'Portrait of a Man,' made by James Ensor, a Belgian artist who lived through both World Wars and the changing social landscape of Europe. Ensor was known for his innovative approach to portraiture, often challenging traditional representations of identity and social status. He was quoted as saying that “art must above all be personal.” Ensor often depicted figures that were grotesque and masked. But here, the man's expression seems to hold a story of struggle, hinting at the internal complexities of identity. This is a sharp contrast to the way he made fun of the bourgeoise in his other artworks. Reflect on how the artwork shapes our understanding of the emotional and personal dimensions of identity during a period of immense social and political upheaval.