The Ghent painter and watercolourist Raphaël de Buck became especially known for his paintings of female figures in many different forms, such as ballerinas, barmaids, ladies on a boat or a terrace, beautifully dressed and with mysterious faces and big eyes usually populate his canvases. 'A dream world full of enchanting young women, who always seem resigned to waiting for a love affair' wrote a contemporary about these paintings. De Buck was also a noted illustrator.