Composed from December 1887 to March 1889, these five highly developed vocal pieces were not well received by Parisian musical circles because of the Wagnerian influence they revealed.

This aesthetic, following on from the harmonic innovations of Tristan und Isolde, was gradually abandoned by Debussy, addressing the composition of Pelléas et Mélisande.

Thus, the Cinq poèmes de Charles Baudelaire represent a particular moment of the musical evolution of Debussy.

"[1] The composition of the Cinq poèmes de Charles Baudelaire extended over more than a year: "La mort des amants" was completed in December 1887,[2] "Le balcon" in January 1888,[1] "Harmonie du soir" in January 1889,[2] and "Le jet d'eau" in March of the same year.

After the success of Ariettes oubliées, nobody wanted to edit or perform the Cinq poèmes de Charles Baudelaire, according to Jean Barraqué.