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Who was Georges?
Georges Rodenbach, a Belgian symbolist poet and novelist, was born on the 16th of July 1855 in Belgium to a French mother and a German father. Although he pursued a career as a lawyer and journalist, his true passion lay in writing, where he was notably prolific. He released numerous stories and poetry collections, with the most renowned being Bruges-La-Morte, which was published in 1892 and lauded as a Symbolist novel.
He died just 5 years later on the 25th of December 1898 at the age of 43, reportedly from appendicitis.
Bruges-La-Morte
The novel revolves around the grief of the protagonist, the widower Hugues Viane, delving into his soul —his emotions, obsessions, and memories. This psychological landscape is mirrored in the portrayal of Bruges, a city depicted in a state of decay, mirroring his internal decay. He encounters a woman who bears a striking resemblance to his deceased wife, propelling the narrative inevitably toward tragedy. The novel contains significant symbolism, and in keeping with the Symbolist Movement, the plot really centers on Hugues himself, dedicating considerable prose to his internal experiences.
The book is renowned for being among the earliest fiction novels to include actual photographs of Bruges and is often cited as being the influence for Hitchcock's film, Vertigo.
Symbolist Movement
The movement evolved In the late nineteenth century, originating from Belgium and French writers and poets intially but soon spread to other arts, notably painting, and to other countries such as Russia. It was really about expressing one's inner life through the use of metaphors and symbols and was sparked by an interest in spirituality which favoured subjectivity over realism.
Jean Moréas's Symbolist Manifesto, published in Le Figaro in 1886, articulated the Symbolist Movement's values, emphasising purity and rebelling against education, declamation, incorrect sentiments, and, fundamentally, objective description. The technical elements should encompass rhyme with abstruse fluidity, mysterious ellipses, and falling undulations.
Symbolist authors were strong advocates of free verse, often delving into themes of eroticism, the occult, mysticism, and morbidity, as exemplified in Rodenbach's novel.
The Tomb - A Fitting Tribute to Symbolism
TThe grave of Rodenbach is situated in Division 15 of the Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
The tombstone features a sculpture, entitled "The Deceased Lifting the Tomb", a 1902 work signed by Charlotte Besnard-Dubray and is perhaps her most well-known work.
Charlotte had been taught sculpture by her father, Vital Gabriel Dubray, who was himself a renowned sculptor and studied under Mlle Fanny Dubois-Davesnes. She was married to the painter Paul-Albert Besnard and was commissioned to make the Rodenbach sculpture while in her mid-forties and running a household with young children. She was a fairly successful sculptress in a time when it was very difficult for women to be recognised in this art form. However, few of her pieces appear to remain.
The sculpture is a bronze of Georges Rodenbach himself, lifting the stone lid of his granite tomb with a rose in his hand. You can see from the photographic portrait of Georges that it is indeed a good likeness. This sculpture is profoundly symbolic, with the rose representing creation and the sculpture depicting the hopeful and beautiful passage to the afterlife, linking art with immortality.
On the front of the tomb, you will also notice the cross of the Knights Templar, symbolising martyrdom, courage, and honour.
To me, this tomb is very evocative. It's as if Georges is signaling "don't forget me" with his final gesture before descending to his eternal resting place. It is simply beautiful.
References
Bruges-la-Morte: Rodenbach
Wikipedia
My own visit to Père-Lachaise and photographs
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