Arthur Schopenhauer published 'The World as Will and Representation' in 1818, presenting a philosophical framework that posited the universe as driven by a blind and insatiable 'Will'. He argued that human suffering is inherent to existence, but art and aesthetic experiences can provide temporary relief from this suffering. Schopenhauer's ideas influenced existentialism and psychology, shaping discussions on the nature of reality and human experience.

His profound pessimism and view of art as solace deeply influenced Symbolist, Decadent, and early Modernist poets, fostering themes of alienation and aesthetic escapism. Poets like Charles Baudelaire and Stéphane Mallarmé drew on Schopenhauer's ideas to explore the depths of human experience and the search for meaning.