Man Reading 1880 - 1883

James Ensor sketched "Man Reading" with graphite on paper, creating a somber and intimate scene. The composition is dominated by the figure of a seated man, rendered with a network of hatching lines that articulate form through varying densities and directions. Ensor's technique of layering lines mimics the act of scrutinizing a text, building up meaning through successive approximations. The interplay of light and shadow, achieved through the density of the graphite, suggests a mind in contemplation, as the subject is caught in the act of reading. Note how the structural use of line blurs the boundaries between figure and background, suggesting a psychological space where the act of reading merges the self with the external world. The portrait in the background further complicates this idea, as the viewer is left to question the man's identity and engagement with his surroundings. Ultimately, the drawing invites us to reflect on the nature of reading itself.