Which artistic ideal was associated with the La Jeune Belgique review?

The La Jeune Belgique review was primarily associated with the artistic ideal of art for art’s sake, a philosophy rooted in Aestheticism.1

While the review was founded by Max Waller in 1881 with the stated goal of fostering a distinct national literary consciousness and moving away from outworn Romanticism, it functioned in practice as a platform for individual writers dedicated to this aesthetic principle. The movement served as a catalyst for a literary renaissance in Belgium, attracting diverse talents—including Maurice Maeterlinck, Émile Verhaeren, and Max Elskamp—who explored various styles ranging from Naturalism to Symbolism.21