In this performance, the participants in a merry carnival procession undergo a frightening transformation as they climb the mountain. As Ensor noted on the preparatory drawing (Royal Library Albert I, Print Room, Brussels), they turn into a "hellish militia on their way to the Sabbath". It is in this print that Ensor first introduces the grotesque masked creatures.
| Artist | James EnsorRKDVIAFWikidata |
|---|---|
| Title | The Infernal Cortege |
| Date | 1887 |
| Period | 19th century |
| Medium and support | etchingAAT |
| Signatures, inscriptions, and markings | printed inscription top right: Ensor |
| printed inscription bottom right: Ensor [86?] | |
| inscription bottom right: Cortege Diabolique James Ensor | |
| inscription on the reverse: Cortège diabolique. | |
| inscription on the reverse: AT | |
| inscription on the reverse: LD 10 | |
| Collection | print room |
| Object type | etching AAT |
| Inventory number | 1998-B-10-2 |
| Acquisition credit | purchase Taevernier, Auguste (coll.) 1998 |
| Current whereabouts | Work currently not on display |
| Permalink | https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/1998-B-10-2 |
| IIIF Manifest | https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/4003/manifest.json |
