 During this period, when he first crossed paths with Hergé, Van Melkebeke's strip "Les Nouvelles Aventures du Baron de Crac" ran in "Le Soir" as well.As a fine arts painter himself, Van Melkebeke encouraged Hergé's own interest in art, introducing him to art world figures of the time.Van Melkebeke painted a portrait of Hergé which hung in the cartoonist's home for many decades.