How did Flemish Expressionism place the community above the individual artist?

In the context of Flemish literature, the movement of Expressionism sought to prioritize the community over the individual by emphasizing that ethics must take precedence over aesthetics.12

This ideological shift was explicitly articulated in the manifesto of the review Ruimte (1920–21), which served as a primary outlet for the movement. By asserting that the art of the community should hold greater importance than that of the individual artist, proponents of this revolutionary trend moved away from the individualistic focus that had characterized previous literary generations. This humanitarian approach was reflected in the works of poets such as Wies Moens, who sought to express a collective faith in humanity through their writing.123