Le Parisien converti: la formation de Rilke entre 1902 et 1906

After having moved to Paris in august 1902, Rilke is immediately challenged by a modern world that he rather avoided in the past. From Worpswede to Paris it is a big step: archaic nature is suddenly replaced by electric tramways, cars and a never-ending urban landscape. As depicted in The Notebook of Malte Laurids Brigge, the new resident of a small room on rue Toullier is surrounded by noises and people. Nevertheless, he feels incredibly alone and seems to have “no world”, like the Panther in his most famous poem. In this period of struggle, maybe the most important turning point in Rilke’s work, his poverty and loneliness changes his view on objects and he elaborates the original language of his Dinggedichte. Thanks to his artistic example Auguste Rodin, he becomes aware of the expressional force of surface and feels encouraged to consolidate this new approach.