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How did Paul van Ostaijen's poetry change after his Dadaist crisis?
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Following his Dadaist crisis, which was characterized by philosophical and artistic nihilism and the use of "rhythmic typography" in works like Bezette stad (1921), Paul van Ostaijen moved toward a concept he termed "pure poetry".123
Striving to transcend the subjective, he developed a unique poetic system that focused intensely on the properties of word and sound. This evolution is most notably embodied in his collection Gedichten (1928), which features evocative fragments marked by exceptional sensibility and musicality. In addition to this shift in his verse, he produced grotesque prose and insightful essays on art and literature, further refining his original and highly influential approach to Flemish literature.123