Belgian artist Jean Leon's paintings of the human body are delicate and realistic, with great connotation

Jean Gouvelus studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brook-Cyrus from 1887 to 1890 and 1893-1894. He was also a student of the painter and decorator Charles Albert. Before studying, he made a living painting posters in Paris and then worked in the family's printing house, specializing in art printing.

Jean Gouvelus painted mainly portraits of women and nudes. Almost all women are portrayed as smokers. He also created two ceiling paintings for the Kursaar Church in Ostend and twelve for the Masonic House in Brussels (1900).