Ernest Rousseau, 1887

Ensor's bosom friend Ernest Rousseau (1831-1908) was a professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Between 1884 and 1886 he was rector of this university. On 20 April 1887 students of the university presented him with a bust, made by Jef Lambeaux. Ensor was probably inspired by this bust when he made a chalk drawing of Rousseau (Ostend, Mu.ZEE, inv. 1955/312), which in turn formed the basis for this etching. The chalk drawing and the etching were made in 1887.