'Ensor by Himself' offers an exceptional introduction to the Belgian artist James Ensor through his own writings, letters, notes and statements. Gisèle Ollinger-Zinque has compiled a carefully selected anthology in which Ensor himself sheds light on his artistic views, his relationship with the art world, his contemporaries and his personal life. The texts are supplemented by numerous reproductions of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and historical documents. This creates a vivid self-portrait of one of the most innovative artists in European modern art. The book is regarded as a classic introduction to Ensor?s personality and artistic thinking. Gisèle Ollinger-Zinque is a Belgian art historian and former curator at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. She is regarded as one of the leading experts on James Ensor and has published numerous studies, exhibition catalogues and monographs on his life and work. Her research has made a significant contribution to the international reappraisal of Ensor and has formed the basis for several major retrospective exhibitions.