The artwork titled “Hell Under, Hell Above, Hell All Around” was created by the artist James Ensor in 1888. It is a symbolic painting that embodies the Expressionism art movement. The Expressionist works of this period often sought to evoke emotion and provoke thought through vivid colors, dramatic symbolism, and sometimes grotesque imagery.
In this artwork, Ensor presents a scene filled with a striking, paradoxical blend of the ordinary and the fantastic. At first glance, the setting seems to be a mundane societal gathering, possibly in an outdoor or semi-open space indicated by the bench and the free-flowing forms that suggest clouds in the background. Ensor depicts a group of figures seated and interacting with various expressions and postures, wearing attire characteristic of the late 19th century.
However, upon closer inspection, the scene unfolds into a narrative teeming with unsettling and surreal elements. The central figure in the cloud appears to be an ominous, face-like form, gazing down upon the scene with a disconcerting expression. Around this face, the phrase “PESTE DESSUS PESTE DESSUS PESTE PARTOUT” repeats, which translates to “Plague above, plague above, plague everywhere,” hinting at an all-pervading sense of doom or societal decay.
Among the seated figures, the juxtaposition of normalcy with the grotesque becomes more apparent. Some individuals bear conventional features, while others are distorted or caricatured. Notably, on the right side of the composition, a skeletal figure holds a plump human infant, serving as a stark contrast to the relative normality of the seated conversationalists. This grim reaper-like figure introduces the notion of death or the ephemeral nature of life amongst the civil social interaction.
The atmosphere of the piece is underscored by the ethereal, smoke-like forms that surround the figures, intermingling with the clouds and blurring the line between the earthly gathering and the celestial or otherworldly overtones suggested by the figure above. The sketchy, almost frenetic lines and the lack of vibrant color in this drawing contribute to the ominous quality of the work, highlighting Ensor’s preoccupation with the human condition and mortality. Through the artwork, Ensor captures an unsettling tableau that serves as a salient critique or meditation on society, perhaps reflecting the existential concerns of his era.
