Goya, Redon, Ensor

There is a part of human nature that has always been fascinated by the grotesque - the feeling of not wanting to look, yet being unable to look away, is a feeling that has been inspired in us all at one point or another. Grotesque depictions play an important role in the works of Francisco Goya (1746-1828), Odilon Redon (1840-1916) and James Ensor (1860-1949). These three artists use grotesque motives in a very different manner: the classical ideas of Goya clearly differ from Redon's symbolism or Ensor's hilarious and cynical mockery. This book presents a rare series of sketches by Goya, grotesque drawings by Redon and a selection of Ensor's top paintings from museums all over the world, and both challenges and confirms the various aesthetic notions of the grotesque.