Albert Giraud, Leuven

The Albert Giraud monument in Leuven honors Emile Albert Kayenbergh, better known by his pen name Albert Giraud, a celebrated Belgian symbolist poet. Born in Leuven on June 23, 1860, into a merchant family, Giraud embarked on a journey that would leave a lasting mark on Belgian literature and culture. Though he began studying law at the University of Leuven, he ultimately abandoned his studies to pursue his true passions: journalism and poetry.

Giraud’s literary career flourished with his involvement in Young Belgium (La Jeune Belgique), a Belgian nationalist literary movement formed in 1885. A poet of the Symbolist tradition, he published several notable works, including Pierrot Lunaire: Bergamo Rondels (1884) and The Garland of the Gods (1910). His Pierrot Lunaire, inspired by the commedia dell'arte figure of Pierrot, later gained international fame when composer Arnold Schönberg set 21 of its poems to music.

In 1920, Giraud’s literary contributions were recognized when he became one of the first members of the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature of Belgium. Despite losing his sight in his later years, he continued his work as the librarian of the Ministry of the Interior until his sudden passing in Schaerbeek on December 26, 1929. Schaerbeek commemorates him with a street and a white marble bust, sculpted by Victor Rousseau in 1930, which also stands in Josaphat Park.

The monument in Stadspark features a similar marble bust, capturing the enduring legacy of Giraud in the city of his birth. It stands as a tribute to a man whose poetry transcended borders and inspired generations, blending Leuven’s rich heritage with Belgium’s broader cultural identity.