past exhibitions

The first exhibition ‘Ensor and Ostend’ explores the close link between Ensor and his hometown.

KBC Bank owns a rich art collection in which the oeuvre of James Ensor occupies  a prominent place.

At first glance, there is little that James Ensor to Roger Raveel have in common, either as artists or in their work. Not only do they belong to different generations; their origins and social backgrounds also set them apart. However, if you take a closer look, you will discover some common characteristics.

At first glance, there appear to be tremendous differences between Paul Klee (1879-1940) and James Ensor (1860-1949), both as artists and in their work. Not only do they belong to different generations; their origins and nationalities also set them apart. However, if you take a closer look, you will discover some common characteristics.

The Print Room of KBR (Brussels) manages the largest collection of paper works in Belgium. Among them are documents from the 16th to the 20th century. In addition to drawings collected for their documentary or topographical character, the Print Room also owns masterpieces by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Peter Paul Rubens and Jacob Jordaens, to name just a few.

Between 1910 and 1913 James Ensor made a series of 32 drawings entitled Scenes from the Life of Christ. Each drawing is executed in red pencil, of which some have additions in blue, green or yellow pencil.

At first glance, Alfred Kubin (1877-1959) and James Ensor (1860-1949), as well as their work, seem very different from each other. Both artists are from a different generation, but they also differ in origin and nationality. However, on closer inspection we can discover common features. It is the first time in Belgium that works by both artists are confronted in an intimate way and enter into dialogue with each other. 

Jean-Jacques Gailliard (Brussels, November 22, 1890 – Saint-Gilles, April 17, 1976) was a Belgian painter and graphic artist. As the son of the Impressionist painter Franz Gailliard (1861-1932), friend and colleague of James Ensor, the young Jean-Jacques received his first drawing and painting lessons from his father. During his childhood years he was surrounded by artists, musicians and persons from the world of esotericism and occultism.

The self-portrait is of essential importance to Ensor and occupies a special place within his oeuvre.

‘The Entry’ is Ensor’s international masterpiece. Unfortunately, it has been part of the Getty Museum’s collection in L.A. since 1987 and will never return, not even temporarily.  However, in the Ensor House, a full-scale replica is situated exactly where the original painting hung in the Blue Salon.

Xavier Tricot has published an important book about this work and, as a curator, will now draw insights from it to provide interpretation of certain characters, flags and inscriptions via a handy exhibition brochure. The large tapestry created from ‘The Entry’ will also be exhibited.