Eugène Demolder

Eugène-Ghislain-Alfred Demolder (16 December 1862 – 8 October 1919) was a Belgian author.

He is probably best known among English speakers for his romantic novel Le jardinier de la Pompadour, (Madame de Pompadour's Gardener). A novelist, short story writer, and art critic he was also educated in law. His memoirs, Sous la robe (Under the Robe), offers a cultural view of the Belgian professional class of the late 19th century and its involvement in literary reform. (See also cultural movements.) His use of symbolism and mastery of ambience sets his novels apart from earlier romance pieces.

He was a member of La Jeune Belgique (The Young Belgium), a literary review journal which encouraged a literary renaissance movement of 19th century Belgium. This movement was influential in raising the national consciousness of Belgians, ushering in modernism and discouraging romanticism. Demolder contributed to La Jeune Belgique as an art critic and published an early monograph on symbolist artist, James Ensor in 1892. Among his contemporaries were Emile Verhaeren, Max Sulzberger, Edouard Fetis.

Demolder was born in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and died in Corbeil-Essonnes, France.

List of works