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What artistic and philosophical influences appear in The Book of Hours?
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Rainer Maria Rilke
Austro-German poet and writer Rainer Maria Rilke, 1902.
The Book of Hours (Das Stunden-Buch), written by Rainer Maria Rilke between 1899 and 1903, reflects the diverse artistic and philosophical currents of 1890s Europe. The work was significantly shaped by the following influences:
- Philosophy: The central emphasis on "life" as a numinous, all-encompassing force is derived from the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche.1
- Artistic Movements: The language and motifs of the poems are deeply rooted in Art Nouveau, characterized by rhythmic, suggestive power and flowing musicality.1
- Literature and Criticism: Rilke drew inspiration from the dramatic moods of Henrik Ibsen and Maurice Maeterlinck, as well as the aesthetic enthusiasm for art championed by John Ruskin and Walter Pater.1
- Personal Inspiration: The cycle was composed following Rilke's travels to Russia with Lou Andreas-Salomé, to whom the work is dedicated. Her intellectual companionship and influence were formative during this period of his development.2
In this work, Rilke adopts the persona of a young monk to explore a conception of God as the incarnation of life and the inner-worldly diversity of "things".1