Artwork
Still Life with Geranium
Still Life with Geranium is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist James Ensor. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1892, *Still Life with Geranium* is an oil painting by Belgian artist James Ensor. Executed during the post‑Impressionist phase of his career, the work belongs to the still‑life tradition and is part of the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a potted geranium placed on a tabletop, surrounded by additional foliage and blossoms. The arrangement emphasizes the quiet presence of domestic plants, inviting contemplation of everyday natural forms rendered in a restrained palette of greens and earth tones.
Technique & Style
Ensor applies paint with a loose, expressive hand, allowing brushstrokes to remain visible across the surface. This approach highlights texture and the subtle variations of colour within the leaves and petals, reflecting his post‑Impressionist interest in conveying sensory impressions rather than precise detail.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, where it remains on display. The work represents a period when Ensor, associated with the avant‑garde group Les XX, was exploring still‑life subjects alongside his more satirical and theatrical pieces.
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.
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
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