Straatlantaarn 1888

James Ensor etched this delicate street scene, likely in Belgium, sometime around the turn of the twentieth century. Look at the lamppost that dominates the scene. It looms large, perhaps a symbol of the new technologies that were transforming urban life. In a quickly modernizing society, such technologies were reframing social interactions and altering the very experience of daily life. The scene is imbued with a quiet, almost melancholic tone, perhaps indicative of the sense of alienation that some felt amidst such rapid change. Ensor was associated with a group of artists known as Les XX, who challenged the conservative art establishment in Belgium. Understanding this image requires delving into the social and technological history of its time. We might consult archival sources, newspapers, and scientific publications to better understand the context in which it was made, allowing us to appreciate the ways in which art can reflect and critique the world around it.