Artwork
Girl with upturned Nose
Girl with upturned Nose is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist James Ensor. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1890, *Girl with upturned Nose* is an oil painting by Belgian artist James Ensor. Executed during his early post‑impressionist phase, the work is part of the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. It exemplifies the painter’s interest in portraiture and his emerging personal style.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a young girl whose most striking feature is an upturned nose. She looks straight at the viewer, her dark, tightly curled bob framing a face that conveys a quiet, introspective mood. The simple black dress with a white ruffled collar and the subdued background keep attention on her expressive features.
Technique & Style
Ensor employed oil paint to build subtle layers of colour and texture, giving the portrait a modest sense of depth. The muted, earthy background contrasts with the darker tones of the figure, allowing the delicate modelling of the face to stand out. The brushwork reflects the artist’s transition toward a more personal, expressive approach characteristic of his later work.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s effort to represent key figures of Belgian modernism, and it stands as an early example of Ensor’s evolving oeuvre before his more overtly satirical and grotesque subjects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
James Sidney Edouard, Baron Ensor (13 April 1860 – 19 November 1949) was a Belgian painter and printmaker, an important influence on expressionism and surrealism who lived in Ostend for most of his life.
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