Focus on this artwork and explore the Description.
The monumental work measures 2.53 m × 4.31 m (8 ft 4 in × 14 ft 2 in). It was so large that Ensor was unable to work on the whole painting at the same time, nailing part to the walls and allowing the rest to drape on the ground.  He used brushes, palette knives and spatulas, laying on paint thickly, mostly as pure pigments.  It was painted on a single piece of linen canvas, primed with lead white and with extensive underdrawing in various colours, some visible, and very few pentimenti.  Some parts may be considered a coloured drawing, with Ensor colouring up to but not over the lines of his underdrawing
It depicts a crowded scene with a colourful carnival procession, ostensibly held to celebrate the arrival of Christ, but none of the surrounding figures pay any attention to the small figure of Christ – almost hidden at the centre, with yellow halo and red coat, riding on a donkey, with one hand raised in greeting or blessing – amid the grotesque clowns, a marching band, and other figures, many apparently wearing masks.  Above is a red banner, with the words "Vive la sociale".  To the right, another banner reads "Vive Jesus Roi de Bruxlles" beside the painters signature "J. Ensor" and the date, 1888.  Some of the figures may be caricatures of real figures: for example, Christ resembles Ensor himself, and one figure has been identified as the Marquis de Sade.
palette knives pentimenti spatula