A Second Marriage
In Brussels, Jakob came into contact with Jean Raymond Dedeyn, a lawyer from Sint-Joost-ten-Node. He was then sent to Verviers on an assignment, where he met Malvina, the lawyer's daughter. Jakob fell in love with Malvina, and the feeling was mutual. In 1888, Jakob asked Malvina to marry him, much to her father's displeasure. He disinherited his daughter when she agreed to marry Jakob.
For Malvina, the transition from her comfortable life in Brussels to one of poverty in Achterbos was a shock. She did not speak the local language and had little contact with the local population.
A period of hardship, hard work, and family happiness followed. Jakob and Malvina had five children: Boby, Marguerite, Madeleine, Kobe, and Alice.
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From Impressionism to Symbolism
Jakob moved away from Impressionism and his work became more symbolic. He himself described this period as "simple, symbolic, poetic, and real." For his watercolours on a gold ground, he received a gold medal in 1897 at exhibitions in Munich and Dresden.
Thematically, he often focused on Kempen interiors or landscapes, in which religious figures were featured. Additionally, he created powerful portraits of people from his environment. During this period, Jakob gained significant recognition for his work, both at home and abroad.
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The Malvinahof
Jakob and Malvina rented a small farmhouse in Mol-Achterbos, which they were later able to buy for 2000 francs (equivalent to 50 euros!). In the garden, Jakob had a gazebo built for Malvina, who had poor health and could relax there in nature.
Several visitors found their way to Jakob's home. Ministers, senators, musicians, and artists were all welcomed at Het Malvinahof. Gradually, a real artists' colony began to form in Mol.
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Harsh winters
Despite the praise, Jakob continued to struggle with financial problems. The Smits family endured great hardship. The winters in the chilly farmhouse were cold and difficult. His studio was little more than an old barn with a thatched roof. Jakob began to experiment with canvases and sails to manipulate the incidence of light. His near-obsession with light was one of the traits he shared with his great influence, Rembrandt.
Fate continued to torment the Smits family. In 1895, Jakob’s daughter Madeleine died, just 14 days after birth. During the harsh winter of 1898, little Alice fell seriously ill, and Malvina became severely weakened. Alice passed away on New Year's Day 1899, having barely turned one. Malvina died just six days later.
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