Modernism and the Golden Age of Spanish Lyric Poetry
Early 20th Century Renaissance
The early 20th century marked a high point for Spanish lyric poetry with the rise of Modernism. Key figures include Antonio Machado, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Salvador Rueda, Francisco Villaespesa, Manuel Machado, and Eduardo Marquina. This movement signified a profound aesthetic renovation, impacting all poetry of the era. Its influence extended to 1915, after which Juan Ramón Jiménez and the Generation of ’27 sought new poetic paths.
Poetic Currents
Modernism
Spain adopted a unique approach to Symbolism, focusing on intimate themes, melancholic tones, and deep, symbolic language, devoid of traditional modernist trappings. Antonio Machado stands as the most representative poet of this style.
Noucentisme
This movement distanced itself from purely human sentiment, embracing intellectual rigor and precision. Juan Ramón Jiménez epitomizes this ‘pure poetry’ with his meticulously crafted language.
The Avant-Garde (1920s Onward)
Various ‘isms’ sought to liberate human instincts repressed by bourgeois society. These artistic languages and diverse worldviews merged with the poetic group of the Generation of ’27.
Modernism: An Aesthetic Revolution
Modernism revolutionized poetic language in several ways:
- Themes: Shifted from classical and medieval to modern and romantic.
- Attitudes: Embraced a symbolic vision of reality.
- Poetic Trends: Moved from sensual colors and sounds to gray tones, melancholy, sensitivity, and introspection.
- Language: Utilized a rich metric for rhythm and musicality, including unusual meters and stanza variations.
Key Figures in Modernism
Rubén Darío (1867-1916)
Darío’s influence on 20th-century poetry is undeniable. His work embodies the two alternating currents of the movement: sensual externality (exotic and legendary) and painful intimacy (melancholy). Key works include Azul, Profane Prose, and Songs of Life and Hope.
Manuel Machado
Manuel Machado prioritized aesthetic values, refinement, sensuality, and musical and colorful language (seen in works like Soul and Apollo). His work spans from Modernist aesthetics to the ‘grotesque’ style of Valle-Inclán, with The Hollow Pipe representing a transitional piece.
Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Some Modernist poets, like Unamuno and Antonio Machado, incorporated the spirit of the Generation of ’98 in both theme and style. Unamuno’s poetry is characterized by its raw emotionality and conceptual depth. His works include Poetry, Rosary of Sonnets, The Christ of Velázquez, Songs, and Poetic Diary.
Antonio Machado (1875-1939)
Born in Seville, Machado studied in Madrid. In 1907, he became a professor of French. He married Leonor in 1909, who tragically died in 1913. In 1927, he was elected to the Royal Spanish Academy. A staunch supporter of the Republic, he fled to France during the Spanish Civil War and died in Collioure. Machado was known for his simplicity, sensitivity, and humility.
Machado’s Poetic Evolution
Machado’s work is characterized by its introspective nature. He defined poetry as ‘the essential word in time.’ His poetry evolved from Modernism, starting with an exploration of his inner world (Solitudes) and progressing towards capturing the objective world and the concerns of Spain (Fields of Castile). After his wife’s death, his poetry became more abstract and philosophical (New Songs).
Solitudes (1903)
This intimate, Modernist work explores themes of time, death, and God. It features symbolic imagery like the afternoon, water, the water wheel, and galleries. Machado uses symbols to represent life’s passage, such as water (life’s source), childhood (time past), sunset (time’s progression), the road (man’s journey), and the clock (time itself). The poems utilize dodecasyllabic and Alexandrine verses, along with simple stanzas like the silva. The style is simple, evocative, and musical.
Fields of Castile (1912)
This collection reflects Machado’s patriotic concerns about Spain’s past and future (‘On the Banks of the Duero,’ ‘Lands of Spain’), his love for nature (‘Fields of Soria,’ ‘Banks of the Duero’), and his meditations on humanity and the world. Later poems reveal a historical and progressive political vision. The narrative poem ‘The Land of Alvargonzález’ is a notable inclusion. Fields of Castile marks a transition from intimate poetry to an objective focus on the world, lamenting Spain’s stagnation and decay.
New Songs (1924)
This collection is brief, heterogeneous, and irregular. Lyrical expression gives way to the conceptual. Machado’s depth in addressing serious human problems and his loyalty to himself and his people transcend fleeting trends. He remains a respected figure among the poets of the Generation of ’27.