A method for recovering purified (meth)acrylic acid, in the absence of organic solvent, from a gaseous reaction mixture comprising (meth)acrylic acid obtained by gaseous phase oxidation of a (meth)acrylic acid precursor, comprising at least the following steps: a) the gaseous reaction mixture is subjected to a dehydration without using an azeotropic solvent in a first distillation column called a dehydration column, leading to a flow from the top of which at least part is condensed and sent back to the dehydration column in the form of reflux, and to a flow from the bottom of which at least part is sent back as reflux into the lower part of the dehydration column to form a recirculation loop; b) the flow from the bottom of the dehydration column is sent at least in part into a second distillation column called a finishing column, which can separate a flow from the bottom containing heavy compounds, and a flow from the top containing light compounds, of which at least part is sent back to the dehydration column; said method being characterized in that : i) the finishing column is equipped with a separating wall, the wall being connected with the upper done of the column in the top portion and not connected with the bottom of the column in the lower portion, thereby separating the column into two sections equipped with internal distillation elements that ensure gas-liquid contact, of which the lower space communicates with the space at the bottom of the column, and of which the headspace is separated into two sealed areas, said column being fed from a single side of the separating wall, and ii) a gaseous flow rich in light compounds and comprising water is extracted at the top of the feed section, then recycled, after condensation, at least in part in the recirculation loop at the bottom of the dehydration column, and iii) a flow of purified (meth)acrylic acid extracted in gaseous form from the finishing column at the top of the section located on the other side of the feed section, is drawn off after condensation, part of the condensed flow being sent back as liquid reflux at the top of the draw-off section. a) the gaseous reaction mixture is subjected to a dehydration without using an azeotropic solvent in a first distillation column called a dehydration column, leading to a flow from the top of which at least part is condensed and sent back to the dehydration column in the form of reflux, and to a flow from the bottom of which at least part is sent back as reflux into the lower part of the dehydration column to form a recirculation loop; b) the flow from the bottom of the dehydration column is sent at least in part into a second distillation column called a finishing column, which can separate a flow from the bottom containing heavy compounds, and a flow from the top containing light compounds, of which at least part is sent back to the dehydration column; i) the finishing column is equipped with a separating wall, the wall being connected with the upper done of the column in the top portion and not connected with the bottom of the column in the lower portion, thereby separating the column into two sections equipped with internal distillation elements that ensure gas-liquid contact, of which the lower space communicates with the space at the bottom of the column, and of which the headspace is separated into two sealed areas, said column being fed from a single side of the separating wall, and ii) a gaseous flow rich in light compounds and comprising water is extracted at the top of the feed section, then recycled, after condensation, at least in part in the recirculation loop at the bottom of the dehydration column, and iii) a flow of purified (meth)acrylic acid extracted in gaseous form from the finishing column at the top of the section located on the other side of the feed section, is drawn off after condensation, part of the condensed flow being sent back as liquid reflux at the top of the draw-off section. <EOS>