Emile Verhaeren (sometimes spelled Émile Verhaeren) was a Belgian poet who wrote in the French language, and one of the chief founders of the school of Symbolism. He was one of the most prolific poets of his era. His first collection of poems Les Flamandes was published in 1883. Inspired by the paintings of Jacob Jordaens, David Teniers and Jan Steen, Verhaeren described in a direct and often provocative, naturalistic way his country and the Flemish people. It was an immediate success in avant-garde milieus, but caused a great deal of controversy in Catholic circles. His next book Les Moines (1886) was not the success he had hoped for. This, and his health problems, led to a deep crisis. In this period he published Les Soirs (1888), Les Débâcles (1888) and Les Flambeaux Noirs (1891).