Pierrot and skeleton in a yellow robe

In Pierrot and skeleton in a yellow toga, James Ensor combined his interest in still life and his predilection for transvestism in an original way. The still-life-like staging is exceeded, giving the scene a fantastic character and 'dead things' serve as living organisms. The work is also highly stylistic. During the 1890s, Ensor liked to paint in a smaller format. In these more intimate works the graphic element becomes more evident, as in this painting. The use of colour is bright and fresh, tempering the morbid dimension of the scene somewhat in favour of the grotesque and the fantastic. Ensor's imagination, clear colouring and technical possibilities come together in a striking synthesis in this work.