Émile Verhaeren

Emile Verhaeren was a Belgian poet and a principal founder of Symbolism, writing in the French language. His early work vividly and provocatively described his country and its Flemish people with a naturalistic directness, finding immediate success in avant-garde circles while also stirring controversy. Inspired by visual artists, his poetry often explored the darker aspects of life and society. Despite personal crises and health issues, he produced a prolific body of work marked by a powerful sense of imagery and internal experience.