Fernand Khnopff (Belgian 1858-1921)
Fernand Khnopff is considered the most important of the Belgian Symbolists. Brought up in Bruges, he was influenced at a young age by the writings of Flaubert and Baudelaire. At first Khnopff studied law, but turned to painting under the influence of Xavier Mellery who included Khnopff in the Salon de la Rose + Croix. In 1879 Khnopff went to Paris where he discovered the work of Gustave Moreau. The French novelist and occultist Péladan greatly admired Khnopff's work, hailing him as 'the equal of Moreau, Burne-Jones, Chavannes and Rops.' The English Burne-Jones and the Belgian poet Emile Verhaeren were strong supporters of his.
Khnopff had very close ties with the Belgian Symbolist Poets and adopted their themes of 'la femme fatale', silence, solitude and deserted towns. Khnopff's eye for detail also made him a coveted portrait painter.