Willy Scholbach was a founder member of Les XX exhibiting at the first exhibition in 1884. He later joined the Libre Esthetique exhibiting with them a periodic intervals. Around 1890 Scholbach changed from a predominantly impressionist manner to literary sources interpreting the verses of Baudelaire and Verhaeren with solemn figures derived from Pre-Raphaelite paintings seen during his visits to England. Scholbach moved to the Vingtistes around Khnopff and Rops who were inspired by symbolist themes rather than neo-impressionist methods.