Gustave De Smet: A Pioneer of Flemish Expressionism Gustave Franciscus De Smet (January 21, 1877 – October 8, 1943) was a Belgian painter who stands as one of the foremost figures in Flemish Expressionism. Alongside Constant Permeke and Frits Van den Berghe, he established this groundbreaking artistic movement, profoundly impacting Belgian art history and cementing his legacy as an innovator of visual language. Born in Ghent, De Smet’s formative years were marked by a familial connection to the arts – his father, Jules, was a set decorator and photographer – fostering within him a deep appre…