Mijn handen 1928

James Ensor created "Mijn handen" using pencil and crayon in Belgium at the turn of the 20th century. Ensor, who was a member of the avant-garde group Les XX, often challenged societal norms through his art. In this drawing, the artist’s hands take center stage, rendered with delicate lines and subtle shading. Note how the hands are not simply objects of study, but expressive tools that gesture and communicate. Considering Ensor’s own words – "My intention has always been to fight, deny, protest" – we might see these hands as actively engaged in the world. They are the hands of a working artist, a creator, and a dissenter. Ensor lived through a period of significant social upheaval and change. His engagement with the marginalized and his critique of bourgeois society reflect a broader questioning of power structures. This drawing captures both the vulnerability and the strength inherent in human expression, revealing the emotional and personal dimensions of Ensor’s artistic vision.