La Cathedrale (Delteil 105, Taevernier 105, Croquez 7bis)

The present lot is the second version of the etching, made by the artist after the first plate (D.7, T.7, Cr.7) was lost. Although it is dated 1886, Delteil and Taevernier assume the plate was engraved in 1896, based on information from a letter Ensor wrote on 27 January 1897 to Ganesco: "I have added an etching to the parcel: The Cathedrale; (..) It's not the cathedrale you know. I had the courage to make a copy - accurately on a new copper - of the cathedrale; it is not matching the previous one completely, the corrosion is different and therefore it is less deepened. I send it to you anyway, as a curious print..". (A. Taevernier, James Ensor catalogue illustr de ses gravures, 1973, p. 261). Apparently Ensor preferred to use the earlier date of execution.