Ensor's bizarre visions were fueled, from early childhood, by the attic above his family's souvenir shop. He described it as "dark and frightening . . . full of horrible spiders, curios, seashells, plants and animals from distant seas, beautiful chinaware, rust and blood-colored effects, red and white coral, monkeys, turtles, dried mermaids."
Gallery label from Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities, July 30–November 10, 2008.