Modernism in Spain and Latin America: A Deep Dive
Modernism in Spain and Latin America
Modernism focuses on two key areas: amplitude, the movement is a vital attitude in Spain and Hispanoamerica; its character patterns reaction against the bourgeois system.
Origins
Modernism emerged in Hispanoamerica as a subversive force and expression of resistance to bourgeois cultural mercantilism. Hispanoamerican modernism involved the claim of a new society with decolonizing intentions. Modernists reacted against materialism, imperialism, the bourgeoisie, and utilitarianism.
Modernism in Spain
At the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Modernism exerted influence in Spain.
Historical Circumstances
Historical circumstances lived in Spanish society favored the adoption of the rebellious attitude of the Modernists, in line with intellectuals and European artists. The Restoration system was exhausted. The crisis deepened with the development of the labor movement in Cuba and ended with the disaster of 1898.
At the beginning of the century, the first Modernist works of J.R.J., A.M., M.M., and R.M. del Valle-Inclán appeared, although only mature Modernism could influence its followers. The Spanish Modernism had a short duration. The writers soon searched for metaphysical and transcendental themes, both personal and universal, focusing on tradition and their own country. The naturalness of art features the determined stance of marginalization and historical impotence.
Poetry of Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío’s poetic production begins at an early age with letters and poems. There are also doubts, fears, and eroticism as a recurring theme of his poetry. Azul (1888) was published, which includes short stories and a few poems. This work is full of striking images and unexpected adjectives, especially disconcerting prose rhythms, but it also reveals its unusual affiliation. Azul emphasizes modernist use of favorite symbols. Among Darío’s favorite symbols are blue and the swan. Blue was the color of the ocean, dream, and firmament. The swan is an emblem of white, symbolizing purity, the ideal, and aristocracy.
Prosas Profanas
It continues the line of aristocratic escape from reality and continues with the social concern of the first period. Darío questions what art, pleasure, etc. are. The theme par excellence is erotic pleasure, which does not exclude sacrifice and sorrow.
Cantos de Vida y Esperanza
This book shows a more sober expression but does not eliminate brilliant words or initiating metric innovations. It recognizes Modernism. Its new mission will address political issues. The key issues are the problems of the Hispanic world and the existential reflection of the poetic voice. Some compositions express the situation of exhaustion and bitterness of the poet’s life.
Antonio Machado
He exceeded the poetic tradition through symbolist procedures and created a new poetry of intense emotion and great introspection. Time makes up one of the major Machadian themes; sleep and love have a common root: concern for temporal interests, time lived. The poet converses with temporality. His poetry’s symbols are born of a feeling of anguish at the passing of time. For Machado, sleep is the only way of dreaming, the only way of all knowledge. But in his verses, as well as naming dreams, there is little eroticism. Woman appears as pure poetry. In his work, nature is a projection of the poet. Dreams join bitter allusions to the lack of love.
Soledades
The themes are those of Machado’s entire poetic output: time, dreams, and lost youth. He usually expresses poetic reactions to nature and the problem of death.
Campos de Castilla
It has a more direct symbolic referentiality. Now the images correspond to a real landscape. In Campos de Castilla, Machado directs his gaze to the landscape and history. The key issue is the decadence of Spain and the nature of its inhabitants. He evokes the real landscape, but the descriptions become meditations. In this work, he also faces the enigma of life, and religious concerns assault him. The formal and thematic developments are: proverbs and songs, seven poems dedicated to Eleanor’s death, and La Tierra de Alvargonzález.