Charles Baudelaire by Étienne Carjat

Charles Baudelaire (1821–1867) was a French poet, essayist, and art critic, best known for his collection *Les Fleurs du mal* (The Flowers of Evil), which is considered one of the most important works of French literature and a pioneering work in the Symbolist movement.

Born in Paris, Baudelaire had a troubled early life marked by the death of his father, his strained relationship with his mother, and financial difficulties. He studied law briefly but was more drawn to art and literature. His first major work, *Les Fleurs du mal*, was published in 1857 and faced legal prosecution for its perceived immorality due to its exploration of themes like decadence, eroticism, death, and the passage of time.

Baudelaire’s work reflected a fascination with the darker, more complex aspects of human existence, grappling with beauty and suffering, as well as the conflict between the ideal and the real. His poetry employed rich symbolism, vivid imagery, and unconventional use of language. He also wrote critical essays on art, notably on the works of painters like Delacroix and his reflections on the role of the artist in society.

Though Baudelaire struggled financially and personally throughout his life, his influence on the development of modern poetry, especially Symbolism and later movements like Surrealism, is immense. He died in 1867 from complications related to a stroke, leaving behind a legacy of poetic innovation.