La Cathédrale, 1896

Signed and titled - Image 23.5 x 17.8 cm; 9.24 x 7 in - Sheet 47.5 x 35.6 cm; 18.85 x 14 in - Bibliography: “James Ensor” Taevernier 105; Crunch 7bis; Delteil 105; Elesh 107 // James Ensor’s 'La Cathédrale' is an 1896 etching that features the monumental facade of a Gothic cathedral, depicted in Ensor’s signature detailed and intricate style. The structure towers above a densely packed crowd of tiny, meticulously drawn figures, creating a sense of awe and grandeur. The contrast between the overwhelming scale of the cathedral and the mass of humanity below highlights themes of spiritual power, authority, and the insignificance of the individual in the face of monumental institutions. The delicate, linear details of the etching give the architecture a sense of both permanence and fragility, while the chaotic crowd beneath introduces a sense of dynamism and movement. This piece encapsulates Ensor’s fascination with social gatherings, architectural splendor, and the tension between the individual and the collective.