Eugène Smits - Musing woman with glass - pencil and pen on paper

Belgian painter, known for his realistic portraits and subdued, refined style. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels and then worked in Paris, where he became friends with Corot, Millet, Díaz and Jongkind, among others. Smits exhibited at the 1855 World Exhibition and was co-founder of l'Art libre and later the Société libre des Beaux-Arts. He also exhibited with Les XX. His work is in various Belgian museums, including the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Ixelles.