A lost still-life painting by Belgian painter James Ensor (1860-1949) has turned up at Brussels auction house Arenberg Auctions after over 80 years. The work showcases an important part of the artist's oeuvre.
The unknown painting – a still life with pink and white flowers in a vase – unexpectedly resurfaced after 80 years, the auction house reported on its website.
Until now, the existence of the oil painting was only known through the notebook kept by Ensor from 1929 to 1941, according to Xavier Tricot, an expert on the painter. "The painting has now resurfaced for the first time," the auction house wrote. "It had been sitting with a private collector all this time."
An additional inscription in the sketchbook shows the painting can be dated to 18 April 1940, meaning Ensor produced the painting at the age of 80. He dedicated it to Mr. and Mrs. Demoulière (not "Dumoulin (?)" as suggested by Tricot based on the details he found on the small drawing he had).
"The Demoulière family was friends with Ensor and collected his work," the auction house added. The painting, along with an etching dedicated to the same family, will go on sale at the auction house from 27 to 29 June, starting from €10,000. Nine other etchings will go on sale at the same time.
Second surprise discovery
The auction house explained that, although the painter was rarely associated with still lifes, an important part of his oeuvre consisted of such paintings. "This was demonstrated by the major exhibition 'Rose, Rose, Rose à mes yeux. James Ensor and still life in Belgium from 1830 to 1930' at Mu.ZEE in Ostend in 2023-2024," the first ever devoted entirely to Ensor's still lifes.
The Ensor museum in Ostend. Credit: Belga / Kurt Desplenter
The auction house expressed its amazement at the fact that the painting not only resurfaced after more than 80 years, but that this happened during Ostend's year-long celebration of the artist, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of Ensor.
This marks the second major discovery of Ensor's work this year. In February, the city councillor for Francophone Culture at the Brussels municipality of Koekelberg, Fatmir Limani (PS), chanced upon one of his etchings dating from the late 19th century in the attic of the town hall.
