De Van Iseghemlaan onder de sneeuw 1881

James Ensor created this painting, "De Van Iseghemlaan onder de sneeuw", using oil on canvas. The thick application of paint is immediately apparent. Ensor’s brushstrokes are loose and visible, building up layers of texture that evoke the damp chill of a snow-covered street. The muted palette, dominated by grays and browns, reinforces this feeling of a cold, overcast day. The way he has worked with oil paint, building up the image through layers and textures, speaks to the tradition of fine art painting. But what is he depicting? Look at the bare scene, how he has captured a specific place, its architecture and environment. This is not an idealized landscape, but a slice of urban life. The painting is a direct record of a specific time and place, capturing the everyday world around him. Ensor's direct, almost blunt approach to materials and subject matter challenged the established art world of his time. He elevates the mundane, inviting us to see the beauty and significance in the ordinary.