The artwork titled “My Aunt Asleep Dreaming of Monsters” was created by James Ensor in 1890 and belongs to the Expressionism art movement. Classified under the genre of sketch and study, the artwork is a poignant representation of James Ensor’s thematic exploration.
In the artwork, an elderly woman, presumably the artist’s aunt, is shown in a state of slumber, reclined on a bed. Her expression is peaceful, in contrast to the ghostly and monstrous figures surrounding her. These figures, rendered in a sketch-like manner, exude a sense of unease and surrealism, evoking the subconscious fears or dreams experienced by the sleeping subject. The use of simple lines and shading effectively captures the dreamlike and eerie atmosphere, characteristic of Ensor’s unique expressionist style.
