Peste Dessous Peste Dessus Peste Partout!, 1904

Etching on zinc plate - Signed on plate in small letters at the bottom right. - On the lower right margin, it is signed in pencil. - References: A. Taevernier, Graphic works of James Ensor, 1973, Pl. T. 3, pag. 315, 3,Elesh 132 - This etching has been given another title by Croquez: “ Pollution all around ”. The subject is a portrait of Ensor's friends. From the left to the right: Ernest Rousseau, Ensor's sister, Ensor himself, Mrs. Rousseau. // James Ensor's 'Peste Dessous Peste Dessus Peste Partout!' is a 1904 etching that satirically portrays a group of people—his friends—sitting on a bench, surrounded by swirling clouds of smoke and ominous figures. The title translates to 'Pest Below, Pest Above, Pest Everywhere!' The central figures, seated formally in the foreground, include Ensor’s sister, Ernest Rousseau, Ensor himself, and Mrs. Rousseau. Above them, pestilential clouds loom, creating a chaotic, almost suffocating atmosphere. The satirical tone is reinforced by the exaggerated expressions of the characters and the chaotic background, highlighting Ensor’s recurring themes of social criticism and absurdity. The etched lines, though somewhat playful, deliver a darkly humorous critique of society, contamination, and moral decay. Ensor’s mastery of detail and his unique blend of humor and critique are evident in this work.