born April 13, 1860, Ostend, Belg.
died Nov. 19, 1949, Ostend
Belgian painter and printmaker.
Trained in Brussels, he spent most of his life in his native Ostend. In 1883 he joined a group known as Les Symbolist . His Entry of Christ into Brussels (1888), painted in smeared, garish colours, provoked outrage. Continuing negative criticism plunged him ever deeper into cynicism until he finally became a recluse. The exhibition of Entry of Christ in 1929 led to his being ennobled by King Albert of Belgium. He was one of the formative influences on {{link=Expressionism">Expressionism .