Squatting Man with Oil Can 

Curator: Here we have James Ensor's drawing, "Squatting Man with Oil Can." It's rendered in pencil on paper, capturing a rather humble scene. Editor: My first impression is of vulnerability. The sketchiness gives the figure a tentative, almost fleeting presence. It evokes a sense of everyday life, a slice of working-class existence perhaps. Curator: Indeed. Ensor, though known for his later embrace of Symbolism and even proto-Expressionism, retained a Realist approach early on, showing an engagement with representing the lives of ordinary people. Oil cans are pretty symbolic. It signifies the beginning of a modern labor movement during the impressionist era. Editor: That's fascinating. I find the can itself intriguing— a container holding power and progress, or perhaps lubrication against the friction of life. The seated position, viewed from behind, contributes to his anonymity and our focus on that industrial element he tends. What do you read in this image in this drawing, curator? Curator: We must not forget how art's audience defines the artist's images. From the viewpoint of institutional critique, a squatting figure might suggest marginalization or the artist acknowledging certain aspects of work and manual work being under-appreciated by audiences. The angle emphasizes that perspective, but I do concede that one of his biggest contributions lies on how everyday life may possess symbolism and deep layers. The image serves not as an invitation, but as the subject's daily struggles. Editor: I agree about how much emphasis and importance has been passed on symbolism of all shapes and sizes, its weight has persisted throughout history. The rapid lines, in the end, adds to the drawing's meaning. It serves a timeless appeal; the idea of working-class' symbolism during James Ensor era. Curator: It invites questions regarding our cultural and artistic perspectives on society in all its different perspectives, without leaving any subject of interest. Editor: Exactly. It seems a deceptively simple drawing, and one of its greatness is that in just a glimpse, many meanings could surface within the canvas, so simply defined by his realism drawing in this sketch. Curator: It seems our discussion led to new understanding about this Ensor’s drawings that's ready for further evaluation! Editor: Well put. It has been an absolute delight dissecting with our viewers one more remarkable artwork.