Drawing Sheet 8 A-B

Support

Dimensions:

22.5 x 34.5 cm

Cut edge:

—

Paper type:

Ivory wove paper, discolored to tan

Pinholes:

LLC, ULC, URC, and possibly upper right area and center, bottom edge

 Additional notes:

Media is visible around/within holes; URC exhibits some absence of media around hole

Sewing holes:

Possibly, vertically through center 7cm and 15.6 cm from top edge

Edges overlapping adj. sheet:

Right side of the top edge

Edges extending below adj. sheet:

—

Edges abutting adj. sheet:

Right edge

Media

Colored pencil:

Black pencil is used to define the overall composition; applied prior to laying down color media; a darker black pencil was used to rework some comp. lines and strengthen existing lines

Orange pencil is applied left top figure’s chin (Also in his hair above), in the center and LLC figures’ hair and mouth, in rope around center figure, scythe, center background figure’s robe, and creature’s feathers at center right side

A darker orange-red pencil/conté crayon was used to accent figure’s mouth (?) at the center-right top edge (this media is visible above in 7A-B as well); along the pitchfork at upper right side; and on the center figure’s hand; and at the center right side (?). This media is applied over all other media

Greenish-blue is applied along the right bottom area for the ground

Possibly greenish blue pencil/paint (caked/piled) at upper and lower right side/edge; extends into 8C

Purplish blue is used in the ‘frites’ sign and lizard-like figure’s legs, hips, and ears, etc

Green pencil is used in the lizard figure at the center right and in the center figure’s hat

Dark blue pencil is applied in a small area at the lower right edge (similar media to that in 8B-C)

Graphite/charcoal:

Possibly traces of charcoal at lower left side, appears smudged

Pastel:

It is unclear is Ensor is using pastel or a another type of thick friable drawing medium, such as another type of pencil composition

Bight yellow pencil/pastel is used in the red-headed figure’s cloak/jacket that extends above (slight off-set of yellow pencil along bottom edge of 7A) and traces are visible in the lower left corner face; this media may also be similar to that in the sky above (2B_C)

Watercolor:

—

Scratching:

There is a scraped line along the contour of the LRC figure’s bottom lip

Word inscription in center-left lower area appears rubbed away

Additional media notes:

**Orange-red pencil/crayon is applied over all other media.

Possibly greenish blue pencil/paint (caked/piled) at upper and lower right side/edge; extends into 8C

Traces of light thick orange-yellow paint/pencil is used in some vertical strokes at the right side and applied over word at lower center left side, possibly as a masking material

Composition

Drawing to sheet edges:

Media extends to all edges

Drawing into adjacent sheet:

Drawn black lines correspond above; the colored pencil palette is generally similar to that used above, though the colored does not extend directly to adjacent edges—except at the far left top edge, the green pencil in the face continues directly above and the yellow pencil in the adj. figure’s cloak appears to have off-set above, along the bottom edge of 7A

 A few drawn black pencil lines appear to extend over to 8C along the right edge, esp. in the figure’s neck, pitch fork handle and just below (?), as well as in the leg and clawed foot; colored pencil corresponds generally well

Compositional changes/additions:

There appear to be additions or reworking in the lower left corner figure’s lips/mouth (made larger) and the nose (made into a horn), eyes and hat;

The hat and words above the center figure appears to be reworked with a darker black pencil

The clawed foot at the lower right side is drawn over pre-existing ground in the composition (feet originally behind the ground as with the lizard’s feet)

Artist’s patches:

—

Former restoration:

—

Drawing on verso:

—

Additional observations:

Analysis

Technique

Area/location

Results/observations

Photo microscopy:

Detail top edge

Capture abrupt transition of media

Ultra-violet radiation:

Infrared radiation:

Lower center-left area

Improve visibility of notation

Raman Spectroscopy:

X-Ray diffraction:

Orange-red pencils/crayons

Are they similar?