James Ensor's Creative Process: Technique, Concept, Image

Symposium on Friday 20th November 2015. In recent years, research on material and technical aspects of the visual arts  has made significant progress. Thanks to the optimization of existing research tools and the development of new imaging techniques, such as Macro X-Ray Fluorescence scanning, the quality of the research data is richer than ever before. In 2013, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp started the Ensor Research Project bringing together an interdisciplinary team with the goal of  investigating the material and technical aspects of the 38 Ensor paintings in the museum’s collection. Supported by a parallel conservation treatment campaign, this project is enhancing the understanding of Ensor’s creative process considerably. Other recent research developments include The Art Institute Chicago’s presentation of  Ensor's extraordinary drawing 'The Temptation of Saint Anthony' (1887) in an exhibition and scholarly catalogue.

This symposium will present a mid-term state of the ongoing project, evaluating the present state of technical and scientific findings along with current theoretical, stylistic, iconographical and historical investigations. In addition, the symposium welcomes papers on Ensor's life and work as well as discussions and research of creative processes in the work of his predecessors and contemporaries, and the presentation of new insights in Ensor’s studio practice obtained by analytical and chemical imaging techniques.

Practical information

20 November 2015

The meeting will take place at the following address: University of Antwerp - Stadscampus, Former chloister of the Poor Clares, Lange Sint-Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerpen

Organisation: University of Antwerp, in collaboration with the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA)

More information can be found here.