City of Ostend Acquires Newly Discovered James Ensor Painting

Ostend (Eurotoday) – The city of Ostend has acquired a newly surfaced painting by James Ensor titled ‘Débris’, adding a rare and previously unknown work to its public collection.

The painting depicting James Ensor’s mother was for many years with a shop assistant who sold him his painting materials. The artwork has just recently emerged, and it was auctioned today. 

‘Débris’ displays the likeness of Marie Louise Cathérine Haegheman when she was 65 years old. Ensor’s intention was not to depict his mother in a complimentary manner, as he positioned the woman directly beneath a portrait of a young lady. 

The project was titled ‘Débris’, which blank”>translates to ‘wreckage’. Expert Henri Godts from Arenberg Auctions describes the painting as quite intriguing due to its personal nature.

“It has an interesting history. It came into the hands of Anna Roose about 100 years ago. She worked in the shop where Ensor occasionally came to buy tubes of paint.”

“We do not know whether she bought it or received it from the artist. Until now, the painting remained in the possession of Anna’s family. The painting was certainly not well-known, because it was not even included in Ensor’s famous oeuvre catalogue.”

The Ensor Advisory Committee acknowledged the painting. Lot 135 was designated for the work and auctioned on Thursday, June 12. The artwork was appraised by the auction house at 80,000 euros. 

The city of Ostend was one of several interested in purchasing the painting. The city accomplished this goal. ‘Débris’ was sold for 125,000 euros at auction. 

The city of Ostend will contribute 120,000 euros, while the remaining 5,000 euros will be provided by the King Baudouin Foundation, Fonds Orcona.

“The painting is one of the few portraits of James Ensor. It is a relatively unknown work with a unique provenance,”

says alderman Niko Geldhof (Vooruit Plus). 

“The work will become part of the municipal collection managed by Mu.ZEE and will be on display in the James Ensor House during the museum’s renovation.”

In addition to ‘Débris’, there exist 2 other portraits of James Ensor’s mother. One is displayed in Mu.ZEE in Ostend, while another is exhibited at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels.

What clues suggest the painting surfaced only recently in Ostend?

The artwork was formerly unrecognized or not recorded publicly, suggesting it had been concealed or privately owned prior to being discovered. 

The city’s recent acquisition and announcement suggest that the artwork has either been newly discovered or verified since such purchases often come after the revelation of artworks that were previously unknown. 

Ensor’s relationship with Ostend and the city’s continuous initiatives to maintain his legacy suggest that new discoveries concerning his work are eagerly pursued and made public whenever they arise. 

The lack of previous public displays or mentions of this specific painting in recognized Ensor catalogs or exhibitions reinforces the notion that it has only recently gained recognition.