Life of Albert Giraud
Born Émile Albert Kayenberg on June 23, 1860, in Leuven, Albert Giraud came from a family of merchants. He studied law at the University of Leuven but left without completing his degree, choosing instead to pursue a career in journalism and poetry.
A Symbolist Poet
In 1885, Giraud became a member of La Jeune Belgique, a nationalist literary movement that gathered at Café Sésino in Brussels. As a Symbolist poet, his works combined imagination, artistry, and mythological references. His most notable publications include:
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Pierrot Lunaire: Rondels bergamasques (1884), inspired by the commedia dell’arte character Pierrot.
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La Guirlande des Dieux (1910), a poetic work drawing on classical themes.
Later Life and Death
Giraud worked for several years as the librarian of the Ministry of the Interior before his sudden death on December 26, 1929.
The Statue in Leuven
To honour his literary legacy, a statue of Albert Giraud stands in Stadspark Leuven. It commemorates him not only as a Leuven-born poet but also as a leading figure in Belgium’s Symbolist movement.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Giraud),
