Georges van der Straeten was a Belgian Art Nouveau sculptor, born in Gent 1856. He first worked as an attorney until 1992 and then was taught by sculptor Jef Lambeaux. In 1883 he moved to Paris, where he exhibited his work at the Salon de Paris from 1885 until 1912. He won a silver medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1900, a world’s fair held in Paris to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next. The style that was universally present in the Exposition was Art Nouveau. Van der Straeten is known for his busts of young women. He represents the Belle Époque period of 1871 to 1914, characterized by optimism and flourishing arts.Van der Straeten died in 1941, also in Gent.
