Les XX
Together with Maus, the influential jurist Edmond Picard and the Belgian poet Emile Verhaeren provided the driving force behind an associated periodical, "L'Art Moderne", which was started in 1881. This publication aggressively defended "Les XX" from attacks by critics and members of the visiting public. Picard polemically fomented tensions both with the artistic establishment and within "Les XX". By 1887, six of the more conservative original members had left, sometimes under pressure from Picard and Maus, to be replaced by artists who were more sympathetic to the cause. Altogether, "Les XX" had 32 members during the ten years of its existence.