Which features characterized Flemish Realist writing in the 19th century?

Emerging around 1860 as a reaction against Romanticism, 19th-century Flemish Realist writing was led by figures such as Domien Sleeckx. This literary movement was defined by several distinct characteristics:12

• Stylistic Focus: Writers prioritized acute observation, the detailed description of local scenery, and the use of humour.12
• Thematic Tone: Works often incorporated a pervasive sense of pessimism.12
• Rejection of Romantic Tropes: The movement actively shunned sentimentalism, didacticism, and over-idealization.12
• Content and Language: Authors favored the use of everyday language and real-life settings, while placing a new emphasis on the exploration of individual psychology.12

Prominent examples of this trend include novels such as Anton Bergmann’s Ernest Staes (1874) and Virginie Loveling’s Een dure eed (1892), as well as the contributions of poets like Johan Michiel Dautzenberg, Jan van Beers, and Rosalie Loveling.12