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Rainer Maria Rilke

Rainer Maria Rilke, born on December 4, 1875, in Prague, was a renowned Austrian poet and novelist. He became a pivotal figure in 20th-century literature, celebrated for his profound and introspective verse. Rilke's early life in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was marked by a tumultuous family dynamic and a challenging education. He studied in several European cities, including Munich and Berlin, before immersing himself in the vibrant intellectual circles of Paris.

Rilke’s work is characterized by its mystical and philosophical exploration of existence, beauty, and suffering. His most famous works include the "Duino Elegies" and "The Sonnets to Orpheus," both of which delve into themes of life, death, and transformation. The poet's unique style blends existential inquiry with rich imagery and emotional depth, leading to his acclaim as one of the great lyric poets of modernism.

Throughout his life, Rilke maintained influential relationships with various intellectuals and artists, such as Auguste Rodin, whom he greatly admired. Despite chronic illness and financial difficulties, he continued to write prolifically. Rainer Maria Rilke passed away on December 29, 1926, in Switzerland, leaving behind a lasting legacy that continues to resonate with readers worldwide.

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Self Portrait by Joaquín Sorolla
Letters/Reflections

Let Life Happen to You

You must realize that something is happening to you, that life has not forgotten you,…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Romeo and Juliet by Ford Madox Brown
Poetry

I’ll Go On…

Extinguish my eyes, I’ll go on seeing you.
Seal my ears, I’ll go on hearing…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Self-portrait by José Tagarro
Poetry

So We Live

Who turned us thus around, so we,
no matter what, have the pose
of one…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Júlio de Sousa by José Tagarro
Letters/Reflections

Works of Art Are of an Infinite Solitude

Works of art are of an infinite solitude, and no means of approach is so…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Portrait of Benedetto Junck by Tranquillo Cremona
Letters/Reflections

Go Into Yourself

You are looking outside, and that is what you should most avoid right now. No…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer on his Death Bed by Vicente Palmaroli
Prose

The Truth

I can imagine someone copying out how Felix Arvers died. It was in a hospital.…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
White Angel Breadline, San Francisco by Dorothea Lange 1933
Reflections

A Human Compassion

A human compassion, a sense of brotherliness, is certainly not alien to me. … But…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Young Mother Gazing at Her Child - William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Prose

O Mother

O mother: you who are without an equal, who stood before all this silence, long…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Heroic Bust of Victor Hugo by Rodin
Reflections

Rodin’s Portraits

Full of the living burden of his great knowledge, he looked into the faces of…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
Romeo and Juliet on the Balcony by Julius Kronberg
Letters

The Last Little Star

I want to put flowers in your hair. But what flowers? There are none with…
By Rainer Maria Rilke
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