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How did Charles Baudelaire influence Paul Verlaine’s poetry?
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Paul Verlaine
Paul Verlaine, detail from Un Coin de table, oil painting by Henri Fantin-Latour, 1872; in the Louvre, Paris.
Charles Baudelaire was a foundational influence on Paul Verlaine, serving as a critical bridge between Romanticism and modernism. Verlaine, who recognized Baudelaire’s catalytic role as early as 1865, was deeply inspired by his ability to represent the complexity of modern man.1
The influence of Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal (1857) on Verlaine and other Symbolist poets was profound. Key aspects of this influence include:2
- Concept of Correspondances: Verlaine adopted Baudelaire’s theory of correspondances—the idea that there are inherent connections between the senses—which he combined with a desire for musicality in poetry.2
- Modernity and Complexity: Verlaine admired Baudelaire’s departure from traditional Romantic rhetoric, favoring instead a focus on the psychological and moral complexity of modern life.1
- Technical Development: Early in his career, Verlaine produced virtuoso imitations of Baudelaire’s work. Over time, he built upon Baudelaire’s innovations to develop his own unique style, characterized by a "pure musicality" and the use of suggestion over explicit statement.34
Ultimately, Verlaine’s work helped evolve the Symbolist movement, which sought to communicate the mystery of existence through personal metaphors and the essential qualities of the poetic medium.2