Gustave De Smet

Born in Ghent in 1877, Gustave De Smet began his artistic journey assisting his decorative painter father, even helping to adorn the exterior of the Spitzner Museum, a famous fairground attraction. Though he briefly attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, De Smet preferred to learn from nature, developing his skills independently. Around 1906, he formed lifelong friendships with fellow artists Frits Van den Berghe and Constant Permeke, who would become central figu…