The Gamblers, 1895

The etching "The Gamblers" is based on the crayon drawing of the same name from around 1890 (private collection). The theme with its clearly satirical and caricatural tone is characteristic of Ensor's work from the early 1890s. Ensor also gave the picture the title "Le ponte déconfit": this is a player against the bank, which is apparently losing here amidst the casino visitors. There is also a free version of this print in lithography that was published in the September 1896 issue of the magazine La Ligue Artistique.