This portrait by Gustave de Smet depicts a young captain and a woman against a stylised port city backdrop. The simplified forms and muted colours are characteristic of the Flemish Expressionist style.

Gustave de Smet (1877-1943) was a Belgian painter associated with the Flemish Expressionism movement. His work often features simplified forms, muted colours, and a focus on everyday subjects. De Smet's style evolved over his career, moving from early influences of Impressionism and Luminism towards a more personal and expressive form of modernism. He was part of the second group of artists associated with the Latem School, a group of artists working near Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium, who moved away from academic art towards symbolism and expressionism. 'The Young Captain' depicts a seated young man in a sailor's uniform, with a woman standing behind him, her hand resting on his shoulder. The figures are set against a stylised background of buildings, water, and ships, suggesting a port city. De Smet uses a limited palette of creams, browns, and muted blues to create a somewhat melancholic mood. The forms are simplified and geometric, reflecting the influence of Cubism and other modernist movements on his work. The composition is carefully balanced, with the verticality of the figures contrasting with the horizontal lines of the background elements.