Le Roi Peste (The Plague Kings) by James Ensor is an etching created in 1895, likely printed in 1905. Executed on Simili Japans paper, this work is hand-signed and measures 132 x 191 mm, with the plate size being 10.2 x 12.1 cm. The piece captures a macabre yet darkly humorous scene inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's story of the same name. Ensor’s frenetic crosshatching technique amplifies the eerie, chaotic atmosphere. A group of grotesque figures huddles around a cauldron, evoking themes of plague, decay, and revelry in the face of mortality. Ensor's characteristic blend of satire and morbidity shines through, highlighting societal absurdities amidst the backdrop of death. The dense, angular lines emphasize the cramped, unsettling space, making this etching a quintessential example of Ensor’s unique style, which merges expressionism with symbolic surrealism.
