1896
oil
panel
From the collection of Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Skeletons Fighting over a Pickled Herring is a 1896 oil by James Ensor, a Post-Impressionism work, depicting Skeleton, held at Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
This painting shows two skeletons facing each other, their jaws open wide. The skeleton on the left has a red collar, while the one on the right wears a green collar with a red trim and a black hat with a white feather. They're fighting over a long, yellowish-brown object that could be a pickled herring. The skeletons' skulls are detailed, with visible teeth and eye sockets. The background is a mix of pink, blue, and white brushstrokes. The overall mood is playful and humorous, despite the macabre subject matter. The painting's use of bold colors and exaggerated expressions creates a sense of energy and movement. If you're interested in more works like this, check out the artist James Ensor.
James Sidney Edouard, Baron Ensor (13 April 1860 – 19 November 1949) was a Belgian painter and printmaker, an important influence on expressionism and surrealism who lived in Ostend for most of his life.
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