Gaston Smit used the aliases Georges Topfer and James Barclay. He was known for his sadomasochistic illustrations and worked for Amateur-Biblio, Curio, l’Édition Parisienne, les Éditions P. Brenet, les Éditions Prima, les éditions Jean Fort, la Librairie Artistique, la Librairie Artistique and Édition Parisienne Réunies also la Librairie Franco-Anglaise

He was active as illustrator between 1919 and 1933. He might have been publishing prior to this date but so far no evidence was found.
Over 400 artworks from this artist can be seen on Vintage Fetish Art.