Roger De Backer's birthplace - Machelen-aan-de-leie

Roger De Backer was born here in Machelen-aan-de-Leie on April 30, 1897, as the son of the village doctor. There is also a commemorative plaque here. Roger was therefore expected to succeed his father later. He started studying medicine, but stopped prematurely because he wanted to become a painter.

After the Second World War he was forced to leave his native village and settle in bustling Waregem. Here, in addition to his home and studio, he had his own gallery, the Zodiak.

In addition to flowers and still lifes, Roger De Backer mainly painted the life and poetry of the Leie region: fairs, processions, the Leie and the flax, the village life of his native village at the beginning of this century. As a result, his work not only has an artistic but also a folk and historical value.

Willem Vandenameele