ENSOR (James). A set consisting of a signed autograph letter - Lot 706

Lot 706
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1500 - 2000 EUR
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ENSOR (James). A set consisting of a signed autograph letter - Lot 706
ENSOR (James). A set consisting of a signed autograph letter and a drawing in black ink on a postcard. The letter, dated “Ostend, November 26, 1926,” is addressed to Charles Aughuet, a magistrate and prominent collector of Belgian art: “(...) I am still looking forward to your visit, which you so kindly promised, so that I can show you the spirit of the painting *Skeletons at the Ostend Baths* and the etchings in question. I have just finished the painting *Skeletons at the Ostend Baths*, and I have, I believe, the funny, humorous, and tragicomic aspect presented by the intermingled male and female bathers—in keeping with your felicitous wishes and thoughts—through the use of hilarious skeletons (...)”. A postscript is written in the margin to the left of the main text: “A group of young, established painters recently organized an exhibition of my works—paintings and engravings—in Liège, open from October 30 to November 11, with a successful, official opening and a speech by Fierens-Gevaert, etc. (...). As for the postcard, it is addressed to Madame Delattre, residing at Madame Houyoux’s home (Charles Aughuet’s in-laws), dated 1906, and features a humorous drawing in black ink. It is a caricature in which Ensor depicts a figure facing a Dantesque feast. The handwritten text in the margin reads: “The doctor contemplating his 19th meatball on his plate—which many people wouldn’t have been able to see their 1,000th of for a long time—what wit—what sarcasm!—what genius!—what a dentist!” In this composition, we see a mustached man—the doctor in question—wielding his cutlery like surgical instruments, seated alone at a table before an immense mountain of meatballs spilling over the edge of his plate, surrounded by empty chairs, glasses, and bottles./ Ens. 2 pieces.
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