Emile Verhaeren facts for kids
Emile Verhaeren (born May 21, 1855 – died November 27, 1916) was an important Belgian poet. He wrote all his poems in the French language. He is known as one of the main people who started the Symbolism movement in art and literature.
Contents
Early Life and Education
When Emile was eleven, he went to a strict boarding school in Ghent. This school was run by Jesuits, called The Jesuit College of Sainte Barbe. After that, he studied law at the University of Leuven. While at university, he started writing for a student newspaper.
Becoming a Poet
After finishing his law degree, Emile worked as a trainee lawyer from 1881 to 1884. He worked with Edmond Picard, a well-known criminal lawyer who was also active in the art scene in Brussels. However, Emile only handled two court cases. He soon decided that he wanted to spend his life writing poetry and literature instead.
His Role in the Art World
Emile quickly became a leading voice for the new art movements of his time. He really liked the work of painters from an art group called "Les XX". He wrote many articles for magazines like La Jeune Belgique and L'Art Moderne. His articles helped introduce many talented young artists, such as James Ensor, to the public. Through these writings, he became a lifelong friend of the Belgian painter Théo van Rysselberghe.
His First Books
Emile Verhaeren was one of the most productive poets of his era. His first collection of poems, called "Les Flamandes", came out in 1883. Some people loved it right away. However, it caused a lot of discussion and disagreement among Catholic groups. His next book, "Les Moines" (1886), did not become as popular as he had hoped.
Later Life and Fame
On August 24, 1891, Emile married Marthe Massin. She was a very talented artist from Liège. In 1898, he wrote his first play, "Les Aubes". That same year, he moved to Saint-Cloud, a town near Paris. By the early 1900s, he had become famous all over the world. His poems and plays were translated into more than twenty different languages.
Emile Verhaeren sadly died on November 27, 1916. He passed away at Rouen station after falling under a train.
Principal works
- Les Flamandes, 1883
- Les moines, 1886
- Les soirs, 1888
- Les débâcles, 1888
- Les flambeaux noirs, 1891
- Les campagnes hallucinées, 1893
- Les villes tentaculaires, 1895
- Les heures claires, 1896
- Les visages de la vie, 1899
- Les forces tumultueuses, 1902
- La multiple splendeur, 1906
- Les rythmes souverains, 1910
- Les ailes rouges de la guerre, 1916
- Les flammes hautes, 1917 [written in 1914]
Images for kids
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Émile Verhaeren in 1910
See also
In Spanish: Émile Verhaeren para niños
