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.