Yvonne Serruys

[3] Born in Menen, West Flanders into a wealthy francophone family, Serruys studied painting and drawing with Emile Claus.

She received a number of public commissions, including a monument to her teacher Emile Claus in Ghent, one for Paul Cambon in Tunis, and a war memorial in her home town.

The majority of her work was romantic in style, largely portraiture and nudes,[3] but including some religious pieces.

An active member of salon culture, she met her future husband Pierre Mille,[2] writer, journalist, and diplomat, at one such gathering.

Her will left many of her works to the town of Menen where they are now held by the local museum, the Stadsmuseum nl:'t Schippershof.