French poet and critic, one of the 19th century writers who determined the development of modern poetry. Born April 9, 1821 in Paris.
Baudelaire's school years were unremarkable and ended in embarrassment: he was expelled from the Lyceum of Louis the Great for a minor offense and was assigned a tutor, or guardian. In 1839 Baudelaire passed the exam for his bachelor's degree. Enrolling at the National School of Charters, he plunged into student life in the Latin Quarter, where he incurred debts. Alarmed by his extravagance, his family tolerated him as a student for two years. His stepfather paid his debts, after which he was sent to India for two years. The ship, battered by a storm, only reached the island of Mauritius, where Baudelaire convinced the captain to send him back to France, and at the beginning of 1841 he was already in Paris.
Two months after his return, having reached adulthood, Baudelaire took possession of the inheritance, which amounted to approximately 75 thousand francs. In 1844, the family discovered with horror that he had squandered half of the capital. A court-appointed advisor was appointed to manage the remaining money. Probably in the same year he met the mulatto Jeanne Duval, who worked as an extra in small Parisian theaters. She became the first of Baudelaire's three famous mistresses and became famous as the Black Venus, inspiring him to create the best of the three cycles of The Flowers of Evil (Les Fleurs du mal, 18 5 7). Around 1847, Baudelaire met Marie Debrun, his second mistress. Like Jeanne Duval, she was an actress. Their break in 1859 was marked by the creation of the most beautiful poem Madonna (included in the second edition of Flowers of Evil, 1861). In terms of fame rather than chronology, the second place among Baudelaire's friends belongs to Apollonia Sabatier, who inspired his White Venus cycle.
In 1846 or 1847, Baudelaire became acquainted with some of Poe's stories in French translation. After briefly becoming involved in politics in 1848 and participating in barricade battles on the side of the rebels, Baudelaire spent the next seven years translating Poe's stories and publishing essays on writers and artists, gaining a reputation as the most subtle critic of his era.
Two volumes of Baudelaire's essays - Romantic art (L'Art romantique, published 1868) and Aesthetic rarities (Curiosit s esth tiques) - include articles on literature and art, written on occasion, in order to get money for food or to get rid of another creditor. As uneven as his poems, they surpass the best examples of their time thanks to the brilliant insights and ability to penetrate to the very essence of the problem, which is found in the assessments of romanticism and critical remarks about the work of Hugo and Balzac. From the point of view of psychology, the diary entries are of great interest , published in the books Vomiting (Fus es) and The Naked Heart (Mon Coeur mis nu); like the critical articles and the amazingly long story of Fangarlo (La Fangarlo), they greatly contribute to the understanding of his work.
In April 1857, his stepfather died suddenly. Two months later, the first edition of The Flowers of Evil was published, and Baudelaire was brought to trial as the author of an immoral work. According to the sentence, he had to confiscate six poems and pay a fine of three hundred francs, later reduced to fifty. For all his contempt for the bourgeoisie, Baudelaire was shocked by the verdict and tried to rehabilitate himself by nominating himself for the French Academy; later, on the advice of S.O. Sainte-Beuve, he refused to participate in the competition.
Flowers of Evil is not just a collection of poems, but a whole poetic work, which in the second edition was divided into six “chapters”, constituting a kind of autobiography of the modern soul in its life’s journey. The first and longest chapter, Spleen et Id al, shows the poet torn by opposing forces that either drag him down or lift him to heaven. This was a foreshadowing of the cycles about art and love, but the chapter itself ends with a reckless plunge into the swamp of melancholy, or “spleen.” In the second chapter, Tableaux Parisiens, the poet wanders the streets of Paris for 24 hours, tormented by his troubles amid the depressing indifference of the modern city. In the third chapter, Wine (Le Vin), he tries to find oblivion in wine and drugs. The fourth chapter, Flowers of Evil (Fleurs du mal) is a cycle of temptations, countless sins that he could not resist. In the fifth chapter, Rebellion (R volte), a fierce challenge to fate is launched. The last chapter, Death (La Mort), marks the end of the journey. The movement of the plot is reflected in the “chapters” that make up the book, in the various cycles that form the “chapters” and, finally, in individual poems, which, like the entire collection as a whole, often also contain a certain cycle. The sea, which occupies such an important place in Baudelaire's poetry, appears as a symbol of liberation; at the same time it is a symbol of an endless, exhausting whirling that cannot give peace and relaxation.
Flowers of Evil had a huge influence on the development of modern poetry. Baudelaire's French followers - St. Mallarmé, A. Rimbaud, T. Corbière, J. Laforgue and others - began with open imitation of his style. The strong influence of Baudelaire can be found in the works of R. M. Rilke, G. von Hofmannsthal and R. Demel (Germany); R. Dario (Latin America); A.K. Swinburne and A. Simons (England); H. Crane (USA).
The second edition of Flowers of Evil appeared in 1861. Six condemned poems were removed, but among the works that replaced them were several masterpieces. For some time, Baudelaire cherished the dream of moving to Belgium, where there was no censorship. He hoped to publish his collection there without cuts, earn money through lectures and find temporary refuge from creditors. From all points of view this trip was a disaster. Baudelaire's publishing plans collapsed, his lectures ended in failure, and the Belgians deceived him when paying his fees. In April 1865, in the Jesuit church of Saint-Loup in Namur, he suffered a stroke. Partially paralyzed, he lost his speech. He was transported to Paris and placed in a private hospital, where he died on August 31, 1867.

- author of the strange expression “damned poets”. He considered himself primarily one of these. This list also included several controversial authors and, of course, Baudelaire. The latter influenced world literature, including the formation of representatives of Russian symbolism. Charles Baudelaire's work was based on contrasts. His life was a torment, fruitless attempts to find a balance between the illusory poetic world and reality.

Childhood and youth

The future poet, critic and essayist was born in 1821 in the French capital. The early period in the biography of the author of “Flowers of Evil” was cloudless. When Charles was born, his father was already over 60. His mother was 28. Caroline Arshanbault was without a dowry. However, marrying an elderly and wealthy man attracted her not only because of the opportunity to get out of poverty. Francois Baudelaire was courteous, had aristocratic manners and an original mindset.

Charles's father came from peasant background. Participated in revolutionary events. The era opened up new paths for representatives of the lower classes. François Baudelaire received a university education. He worked in the Senate and slowly but surely climbed the social ladder.

Baudelaire Sr. often took his son to ancient sights. Already at an early age, the boy’s love for art awakened. His father died when Charles was still a child. The poet received his first psychological trauma in childhood, with the death of his father. He not only lost a loved one, but also experienced the pangs of jealousy.

My mother was only a widow for a year. This time, Caroline’s chosen one was a 39-year-old officer who knew nothing about literature and art. He was a reserved, disciplined, educated man. But he failed to find an approach to his stepson. Charles was sent to Lyon, to a boarding school at the Royal College.

Baudelaire's first poems date back to the Parisian period. After graduating from boarding school, he went to the capital, where he continued his education. Early works are filled with a feeling of disappointment and melancholy. In 1841, the lyricist completed his studies. My stepfather insisted on a legal career. However, Charles already knew then that his life would be connected with literature. His parents convinced him to go to India, hoping that in this way they would save the young man from the “disastrous path.”

Literature

The voyage lasted less than a year. Baudelaire, having never reached the shores of India, visited Reunion Island. Seascapes had a strong impression on the young lyricist, and were later reflected in his poetic work.

At the beginning of his literary career, Baudelaire drew inspiration from the events of the late 40s. The poet did not stay away from the growing revolutionary movement. Along with the workers, he fought on the barricades in the summer of 1848 and published articles in a radical Parisian newspaper. Later he would call it an obsession. And over the years he will begin to experience an almost physical aversion to politics.

Charles Baudelaire published his first poems in 1843. The heyday of creative forces occurred in the early 50s. The main subject of depiction in poetic works was lack of spirituality, the clash of ideals with gray reality. In 1957, a collection was published that caused a resonance in society, “Flowers of Evil.”

Reality seemed chaotic and formless to the poet. Unlike the romantics, who were also not satisfied with reality, Baudelaire did not console himself with illusions, did not dream of a fairy-tale world. In the human soul he saw a fragment of rotting reality. In the poems included in the scandalous collection, the author exposed his own vices. Baudelaire became the first poet to criticize not so much society as he criticized himself.

“Hymn to Beauty,” included in the famous collection, is not a celebration of beauty. The author presented the beauty in this work as attractive, enchanting, but merciless. This contrast is reflected in the composition of the poem. The main element here is antithesis.

In “Blessing,” the poet talks about the terrible evil in this world - boredom. Works from The Flowers of Evil have been subject to numerous interpretations. The meaningful philosophical meaning of the decadent poet’s poems is an eternal topic of literary controversy. Censors, Baudelaire's contemporaries, considered certain works to be frankly obscene. Readers and critics greeted them with delight.

Two weeks after the publication of the collection, a trial began against the author. Baudelaire was accused of blasphemy, a violation of moral standards. The poet was forced to pay a fine, which was reduced thanks to an appeal to the empress. Among the poems included in the book, which caused a stir in society: “Albatross”, “Carrion”, “Ideal”, “Bottle”, “Abyss”, “Self-deception”.

The images he created are both attractive and repulsive. A quote demonstrating the pessimism of the French poet is: “A person must fall low to believe in happiness.” Another book by the founder of decadence, published in 1957, is “Poem in Prose.” But it no longer had such widespread success.

“The Parisian Spleen” is a collection published in 1960. The book includes prose poems (“Crowds”, “Old Clown”, “Stranger”, “Poor Man’s Toy”). “My Naked Heart” is a collection of diary entries. The poet did not complete both books. Illness and failures in his personal life deprived him of his last strength.

Baudelaire was the first writer to pay attention in his work to the effects of hashish on human consciousness. In the late 40s, he visited a club whose members actively took drugs that are prohibited today. He himself used hashish only a few times in his life. Théophile Gautier argued that Baudelaire was disgusted by the dubious happiness of a hashishist. True, in the early 50s the poet tried opium. But he managed to get rid of this addiction.

He wrote several articles about his experience using psychotropic drugs, which were included in the book “Artificial Paradise.” The essay on wine and hashish was written in 1951. Seven years later, Baudelaire dedicated another work to the effects of the drug. He believed that the drug had an interesting effect on human consciousness. However, its use is incompatible with creative activity. He had a different opinion regarding wine. The poet argued that alcohol makes a person open, spiritual, and happy.

Personal life

In the biography of Charles Baudelaire, the name of Jeanne Duval is invariably mentioned. The actress became the muse of the French poet. He dedicated many works to her: “Hair”, “Balcony”, “Dancing Snake”. The charming Creole woman also inspired him to create the poem “Carrion” from the collection “Flowers of Evil.” They met in the early 40s, but the Baudelaire family did not accept Jeanne. The mother did everything to separate them. Once, the decadent poet even attempted suicide.

Baudelaire did not part with Duval until the end of his life. He was a wasteful person and got involved in dubious projects. His relatives paid him a monthly amount, which quickly dried up. Baudelaire spent most of his life in poverty. In addition, like Zhanna, he suffered from syphilis.

Death

In the mid-60s, Charles Baudelaire left Paris. He spent the last years of his life in Belgium. The condition worsened, the disease rapidly destroyed the patient's body. One day on the street he lost consciousness. In April 1866, Baudelaire was hospitalized, but was soon transferred to a hotel. The mind of the author of “The Flowers of Evil” was gradually fading. The poet stopped getting out of bed and did not say a word.

In 1867, Baudelaire was committed to a mental hospital. On August 31st he died. The grave of the great French poet is located in the legendary Parisian cemetery, which became the last refuge for the most famous Frenchmen - in Montparnasse.

Bibliography

• 1847 - “Fanfarlo”.
• 1857 - “Flowers of Evil.”
• 1857 - “Poems in Prose”
• 1860 - “Parisian spleen”
• 1860 - “Artificial Paradise”
• 1864 - “My Naked Heart”

Quotes

“I love girls and hate philosophizing ladies.”

“A woman is the opposite of a dandy. Which means she’s disgusting.”

“The Argument for God. Nothing exists without purpose."

“Superstition is the repository of all kinds of truths.”

“Robespierre is appreciated only because he uttered a few beautiful phrases.”

Born in Paris. His father was a peasant who became a senator during the Napoleonic era, Francois Baudelaire. The year his son was born, he turned 62 years old, and his wife was only 27 years old. Francois Baudelaire was an artist, and from early childhood he instilled in his son a love of art, took him to museums and galleries, and introduced him to his artist friends. But the boy lost his father the year he turned 6 years old. A year later, Charles's mother married General Opique; The boy's relationship with his stepfather did not work out. His mother’s marriage left a heavy imprint on the character of Charles, who in his adolescence and youth, in defiance of the opinions of his stepfather and mother, often committed acts that shocked society.

When Charles was 11 years old, the family moved to Lyon, and the boy was sent to a boarding school. In 1836, the Opiques returned to Paris, and Charles entered the College of Saint Louis, from where he was expelled just a year before graduation. In May 1841, Baudelaire was sent on a trip to India (as a punishment) to “get rid of the bad influence” of the bohemian circle of the Latin Quarter. Charles Baudelaire stayed in India for only two months; longing for the homeland he left behind forced him to return to Paris. In 1841, he entered into the right of inheritance, but quickly began to squander his father’s money, and in 1844, by a court order, management of the inheritance was transferred to his mother, and Charles himself would henceforth receive only a modest amount of “pocket money” every month.

Literary creativity

In 1857, his most famous collection of poetry () was published, which shocked the public so much that the censors fined Baudelaire and forced him to remove 6 of the most “obscene” poems from the collection. Then Baudelaire turned to criticism and quickly achieved success and recognition in this field. Simultaneously with the first edition of The Flowers of Evil, another poetry book by Baudelaire, Poems in Prose, was published, which did not leave behind as significant a mark as the condemned book of the poet. In 1860, Baudelaire published a collection of prose poems. In 1861, the second edition of “The Flowers of Evil” was published, revised and expanded by the author.

Psychedelic experiences

Baudelaire has one of the most clear descriptions of the effects of hashish on the human body, which for many years became the standard for everyone who wrote about psychotropic cannabis products.

From 1844 to 1848, Baudelaire attended the “Hashish Club,” founded by Jacques-Joseph Moreau, and consumed dawamesque (an Algerian variety of hashish). According to Théophile Gautier, who actively participated in the life of the club, Baudelaire “took hashish once or twice during the experiments, but never used it constantly. This happiness, bought at a pharmacy and carried away in a vest pocket, was disgusting to him.” Subsequently, Baudelaire became addicted to opium, but by the early 1850s. overcame his addiction and wrote three large articles about his psychedelic experience, which formed a collection (1860).

Two of the three articles - (1851) and (1858) - are devoted to cannabinoids. Baudelaire considered their influence interesting, but unacceptable for a creative person. According to Baudelaire, “wine makes a person happy and sociable, hashish isolates him. Wine extols the will, hashish destroys it.” Despite this, in his articles he acts as an objective observer, without exaggerating the psychotropic effects of hashish and without falling into excessive moralizing; therefore, the disappointing conclusions that he draws from his experience are perceived with a certain degree of confidence.

Disease

In 1864, Baudelaire went to Belgium, where he spent two and a half years, despite his disgust with the boring Belgian life and his rapidly deteriorating health. While in the Church of Saint-Loup in Namur, Baudelaire lost consciousness and fell straight onto the stone steps. He was brought to Paris and placed in a clinic, where he died. Before his death, doctors discovered the first signs of right-sided paralysis and severe aphasia, which later turned into complete loss of speech. He was buried in the Montparnasse cemetery.

One of the most popular French poets of the 19th century is Charles Baudelaire. The biography of the writer is still of interest to all those interested in the French school of poetry. Baudelaire is considered the theorist and founder of decadence and symbolism. These movements had a significant influence on the development of all European literature.

The poet's youth

The poet Charles Baudelaire, whose biography dates back to 1821, was born in Paris. His father François was a peasant at a very advanced age and took part in the Great French Revolution. The year Charles was born, he turned 62 years old. The mother was a young 27-year-old girl. Despite his peasant origins, Francois Baudelaire was seriously interested in painting and began to instill in his son a love of art from the first days of his life. In 1827, Francois died.

A year later, Colonel Jacques Opique, who soon became a diplomat, became the stepfather of the future poet.

At the age of 11, Baudelaire moved with his family to Lyon and began studying at the Royal College. Already at that time he constantly suffered from melancholy and sudden mood swings. Accuracy and diligence were abruptly replaced by absent-mindedness and laziness. Although at this age his passion for literature first manifested itself.

The family returned to the French capital in 1836, when Charles turned 15. He studied law at the College of Saint Louis and immersed himself in the nightlife of Paris. By his own admission, he dates women of easy virtue, becomes infected with sexually transmitted diseases from them, and spends borrowed money. His turbulent life leaves an imprint on his studies, and he fails to graduate from college.

Having finally received his diploma by hook or by crook, Charles decides to try his hand at literature, despite the fact that his stepfather insists on a career as a lawyer. To save her son from the influence of depraved Paris, his mother sends him on a trip to India. In 1841, Charles Baudelaire sails from France. The poet's biography was replenished with new and fresh impressions from this trip, despite the fact that he never reached India.

Returning from an almost year-long trip, Baudelaire receives an inheritance, quite decent for those times. He immediately begins to spend it and very soon gains the reputation of a rich dandy in metropolitan society.

Baudelaire's Muse

During this period, Baudelaire meets his muse. For the next 20 years, she became the ballerina Jeanne Duval. At that time, she had just arrived in Paris from Haiti. The poet fell in love with the Creole almost immediately; she became the most important woman in his life after his mother. Many poems are dedicated to her, for example, “Hair”, “Balcony” and “Exotic Aroma”.

Baudelaire called her Black Venus - for him Jeanne Duval became a symbol of sexuality and beauty. For 20 years, Baudelaire’s family did not accept the ballerina, suspecting that she was only defrauding the poet of money. In 1862, his muse died after contracting syphilis.

His acquaintance and lavish lifestyle with Duval led to the fact that in 1844 his mother filed a lawsuit to establish guardianship over her son. Since then, the entire inheritance went to her, and the poet received only a small amount of pocket money every month. This worsened the already not very good relationship with my stepfather. At the same time, Baudelaire still continued to treat his mother with respect and love.

Literary achievements

Until 1846, Charles Baudelaire was known only in narrow circles. The poet's biography was rewritten after the publication of his articles on contemporary art. His assessment was supported by most French people.

During the same period, Baudelaire became acquainted with the work of the American writer Edgar Allan Poe. In him, according to literary scholars, he felt a kindred spirit. Therefore, over the next decade and a half, I began to devote a lot of time to the American’s stories, translating them. Charles Baudelaire translated most of his major works into French.

The writer did not stay away from the French Revolution of 1848. He spoke on the barricades and even edited a radical newspaper for a short time. Soon his passion for politics passed, Charles concentrated on creativity.

In the 50s he wrote his best poetry.

Life's work

"Flowers of Evil" is the main collection of the French symbolist, which was published over 11 years. During this time it underwent three editions. After the first, a serious fine was imposed on the poet for violations of moral standards. As a result, several of the most obscene poems had to be removed.

Baudelaire began creating The Flowers of Evil in 1857. The main themes of the poems repeat the main lyrical moods of the poet - boredom, melancholy and despondency. A large number of poems are dedicated to the French poet Théophile Gautier and Baudelaire's muse, the ballerina Jeanne Duval.

One of Baudelaire's most famous works, the poem "Albatross", was included in the second edition. In it, the poet is compared to a wounded bird.

Health problems

In 1865, Charles Baudelaire, whose poems were extremely popular by that time, moved to Belgium. He lives here for two and a half years, while his health deteriorates greatly.

In 1866, illness put him to bed. He contracted syphilis. In April, he was taken to the central hospital in serious condition, but after his family arrived he was transferred back to the hotel.

Soon Charles could no longer clearly formulate his thoughts, he constantly fell into prostration, the poet’s mind refused. His mother took him to Paris, where she placed him in a mental hospital. Baudelaire died on the last day of summer in 1867.

Poet's grave

The French poet Charles Baudelaire was buried in Paris, in the Montparnasse cemetery, next to his stepfather, with whom he had been at enmity all his life. Not a word was said about Baudelaire on the tombstone.

Only three and a half decades later a majestic tombstone was erected on the grave. The initiators of its creation were admirers of his talent. Moreover, some doubted the need for this monument, since even by the beginning of the 20th century, the significance of Baudelaire for French poetry was questioned by many.

As a result, the monument was opened only in 1902. Today this place remains one of the most popular among his fans. Writers gather here and read Baudelaire's poems.

The poet's work

Charles Baudelaire began publishing his works in the mid-40s. Poems began to appear in the magazine "Artist". Many of his poetic works fairly shocked the public, who were not accustomed to such creativity. Despite this, the poet rapidly achieved fame and popularity. After “Flowers of Evil,” another of his poetry books, “Poems in Prose,” was published.

The last collection of his works was blank poetry, collected in the cycle “Paris Spleen”.

Experiments with prohibited substances

One of the first clear descriptions of the effects of drugs on the human body was made by Charles Baudelaire. The poet's work was closely connected with the use of hashish.

For several years he attended a hashish club based in Paris. Moreover, according to the founders of this society, the poet himself did not use the drug regularly, but did it only two or three times as an experiment.

A little later, Baudelaire became addicted, and to opium. However, he managed to overcome this addiction. He wrote several poems about his psychedelic experiences, including the collection Artificial Paradise.

Several articles by Baudelaire are devoted to banned substances today: “A Poem about Hashish” and “Wine and Hashish.” The poet considered the effect of drugs on the creative essence to be interesting, but not acceptable for a real artist. The poet preferred wine to drugs, since, in his opinion, only it made a person happy and sociable, while hashish and other cannabinoids only suppressed creative nature.

In his articles and poems, Baudelaire evaluates the effects of these substances on the human body as an outside observer, without exaggerating the possible effect, but also without falling into unnecessary moralizing.

Poetry and music

Baudelaire, an art critic, left his programmatic articles devoted not only to painting and literature, but also to music. In the sonnet “Correspondences,” he, in particular, substantiated the principle by which different types of art can interact with each other.

Baudelaire was a great lover and keen connoisseur of music. It was he who discovered the composer Wagner for the French. The poet's essay "Richard Wagner and Tannhäuser in Paris", published in 1861, is dedicated to him.

In his poems and sonnets, Baudelaire repeatedly mentioned his musical preferences. These are primarily Carl Maria von Weber, Ludwin van Beethofen and Franz Liszt.

Many famous composers wrote music for Baudelaire's poems. Among them are Claude Debussy, Anatoly Krupnov, David Tukhmanov, Milen Farmer, Konstantin Kinchev.

Charles Pierre Baudelaire was born in Paris in the family of François Baudelaire, a descendant of peasants who made a career as a senator under Napoleon. The age difference between his parents was 35 years. Despite his important post, Charles's father paid him a lot of attention. I went with him to exhibitions, museums, and introduced him to artist friends. In a word, he instilled a love of art. But only the boy turned 6 years old when Francois died. Mother remarried. But the relationship between Charles and his stepfather did not work out. In order to annoy him and his mother, he began to do shocking things. Having reached adulthood, he began to squander his father's money. As a result, the court decided to transfer the inheritance to the management of his mother. Charles himself henceforth received funds only for pocket expenses.

It was at this time that Baudelaire came to literature. The poet's most famous collection, Flowers of Evil, shocks the public. The censors exclude the six most obscene poems from it and fine Charles.

Another outstanding work of the critic is considered to be his works on the effects of hashish use on the body - three articles that made up the collection “Artificial Paradise”.

Charles Baudelaire died in Belgium after a long and serious illness. He was buried in the Montparnasse cemetery, which is located in Paris.

"Vecherka" offers a selection of quotes from the poet’s most beautiful poems.

1. Dancing snake.

Dedicated to Jeanne Duval, actress and ballerina, Baudelaire's muse for twenty years.

“You look careless and lazy
I love to contemplate when
Your flickering shimmers
They tremble like a distant star.

I love wandering waves
Fragrant curls,
That they are full of pungent incense
And the black blue of the seas.

Like a boat, inspired by the dawn,
Suddenly the sails unfurl,
My spirit, touched by a dream,
Suddenly it flies into the sky.”

2. Lola de Valence

Inscription for a painting by Edouard Manet, a good friend of the poet. A sea of ​​criticism fell on the artist for his depiction of the Spanish woman. He was criticized for his flat shape. roughness of the drawing and lack of completeness of the work. Baudelaire could not help but support his comrade.

“Among the everywhere visible and varied beauty,
It’s clear to me, friends, that our minds are in flux, -
But in Lola de Valence there is an unexpected radiance
Enchanting game, and roses, and blackness.”

3. To the painting by Eugene Delacroix “Tasso in prison”

The image of the poet Torquato Tasso, who, by order of the Duke d'Este in the 16th century, was placed in solitary confinement for several years, was for romantics a symbol of independent art. Delacroix dedicated a whole series of paintings to this subject, where he presented the viewer with a man unbroken by circumstances, a fighter for freedom, a clash of genius and injustice.Charles Baudelaire wrote a poem on one canvas from this cycle.

"Yes! A genius locked in a damp monastery,
Antics, this cry, visions that in a crowd,
Revolting, circling, disturbing the poet's ears,

The dreamer, torn from his bed by horror, -
Here is your symbol, Soul, with a vague dream:
Reality is pressing you with its prison!”

4. Paris Dream

Baudelaire addressed this work to Constantin Huys. He was an artist famous in his time for his sketches of Parisian life.

“Opening my gaze, blazing with fire,
I made out the shack again,
And, becoming myself again,
I felt the thorns of worries.

Clock with funeral bell
It struck noon so rudely!
Above the inert and sad world
You, the sky, shed darkness!”

5. Clock

Charles Baudelaire spent almost 17 years translating the works of Edgar Allan Poe, whom he considered his spiritual brother. In 1855, he adapted the story “The Masque of the Red Death” into French: “And when sixty minutes passed - three thousand six hundred seconds of fleeting time - and the clock began to strike again, the same confusion set in and the crowd was seized by confusion and anxiety.” This poem is associated with his images.

“REMEMBER! DO NOT FORGET! AND THIS IS A MEMOR!-
Know!
The larynx spoke in the dialect of all tribes!
Frisky minutes resemble veins:
Don't leave the rocks without taking all the gold!

Know: Time is like a player who does not deceive,
But he will beat us! This is the law and the way!
The day has become shorter and the night is getting thicker; DO NOT FORGET:
The abyss is hungry. There is no sand in the clock anymore.

And soon the hour will strike. Your last refuge, -
Your Shame, Repentance, Heavenly Chance, together
And Chastity, - a wife with maiden honor, -
"Coward! The deadline has passed! Die!” they say.