In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the winning of a medal at an exhibition or a decoration in an official order invariably led to the staging of grand banquets, just like anniversaries and other festive events. At these dinners much attention was paid to the menus, and they were regularly illuminated in etching or lithography by artists who were friends. Two such menus by Ensor are known: "The menu for Charles Vos" and "The menu for Ernest Rousseau". Ensor made the first menu on the occasion of the festive inauguration of the 'Vos-Hall', the gallery and auction room that Ensor's friend Charles Vos opened in Brussels on 26 December 1896. "The menu for Ernest Rousseau" was made by Ensor on the occasion of the wedding of Ernest Rousseau Jr.
