The Brussels municipality of Koekelberg chanced upon an etching by Belgian painter James Ensor and a work by Brussels artist Constantin Meunier in the attic of the town hall this weekend.
Koekelberg city councillor for Francophone Culture, Fatmir Limani (PS), discovered the two works – both dating from the late 19th century – when he was working in the attic of the municipality's theatre hall, he told RTBF.
"I was sorting through all the works there when I accidentally discovered Ensor and Meunier's work," Limani said.
One of the works is an etching by Ostend painter James Ensor: the 1888 work "Les étoiles au cimetière" ("Starry Sky over the Cemetery"). While Ensor was best known for his paintings with recurring themes such as masks, skeletons and carnivals, he also ventured into etchings.
"It's not Ensor's best work," said Limani. "He himself admitted that he did not fully master the technique of engraving. But it is definitely an Ensor, the etching is signed and there is a stamp on the back."
Besides Ensor's etching, another painting by Brussels painter and sculptor Constantin Meunier from 1859 was also recovered.
The two works will be restored, and will soon be exhibited in Koekelberg's municipal halls.
