Vissers aan de Leie, 1923

Frits Van den Berghe (1883–1939) depicted his good friends Constant Permeke and Gust De Smet here on the Leie with fishing rods and pipes. Maurits Naessens (1908-1982), banker and member of the first board of trustees, donated this work in connection with the exhibition in 1969.

As head of the Bank van Parijs en de Nederlanden and later as vice president of the Vlaams Economisch Verbond, Naessens defended far-reaching autonomy for Flanders. As an art promoter and patron, he played a major role in the promotion of autonomous Flemish culture and awareness.

• This work is part of the museum’s main collection. It was included in the inventory of the donation from Jules and Irma Dhondt-Dhaenens that was compiled at the board meeting on 03.06.1967.