James Ensor. Dreams of Mother-of-Pearl

This catalogue with text by art historian Herwig Todts appears in response to a new Ensor presentation in Mu.ZEE, which consists almost exclusively of paintings and drawings from the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. With 38 paintings and some 650 drawings to its name, the museum boasts not only the largest but also the very finest Ensor collection. Directly and indirectly, these holdings are the fruit of the dedication shown by Antwerp collectors such as François Franck, Albin and Emma Lambotte, and the art-loving members of the exhibition association known as Kunst van Heden (1905-1955). But head curator Walther Vanbeselaere (1948-73) also played a decisive and important role in determining the quality of the Antwerp Ensor collection. The fact that the Antwerp museum has developed into the leading centre of expertise on Ensor is also down to Vanbeselaere.

In recent years the Antwerp Ensor collection has been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Basel, Copenhagen and Utrecht. The KMSKA is placing 26 paintings on long-term loan to Mu. ZEE

This catalogue with text by art historian Herwig Todts appears in response to a new Ensor presentation in Mu.ZEE, which consists almost exclusively of paintings and drawings from the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. With 38 paintings and some 650 drawings to its name, the museum boasts not only the largest but also the very finest Ensor collection. Directly and indirectly, these holdings are the fruit of the dedication shown by Antwerp collectors such as François Franck, Albin and Emma Lambotte, and the art-loving members of the exhibition association known as Kunst van Heden (1905-1955). But head curator Walther Vanbeselaere (1948-73) also played a decisive and important role in determining the quality of the Antwerp Ensor collection. The fact that the Antwerp museum has developed into the leading centre of expertise on Ensor is also down to Vanbeselaere.

In recent years the Antwerp Ensor collection has been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Basel, Copenhagen and Utrecht. The KMSKA is placing 26 paintings on long-term loan to Mu. ZEE