Modernism in Spanish Literature: A Comprehensive Overview
Modernism in Spanish Literature
Introduction
Modernism is a literary movement that coexisted with the Generation of ’98, but its members, primarily essayists, had opposing characteristics. Unlike the ’98 writers who were inspired by Juan Ramon Jimenez, Modernists believed that the Generation of ’98 and Modernism were distinct movements of modernization and Europeanization.
Modernist literature sought aesthetic beauty rather than transmitting political or moral ideas. Modernist poetry and prose utilized musicality as a fundamental resource.
Symbolism’s Influence on Modernism
Modernism‘s symbolism originated in France between 1860 and 1900. Charles Baudelaire wrote three pivotal books for European culture, beginning with “Flowers of Evil,” a collection of poems that challenged 20th-century idealism. This book led to Baudelaire being tried for immorality. Paul Verlaine established the concept of poetry as music, while Arthur Rimbaud‘s poetry embraced irrationality, based on images that defied logic.
The Rise of Modernism in Spain
The first Modernist book in Castilian Spanish, “Azul,” was written by Ruben Dario in 1888. It featured symbolist poetry and short stories. The short story genre was particularly prominent in Modernism. Dario moved to Madrid and shared his poems with young poets.
Modernists rejected contemporary life and idealized the past, embracing bohemianism. The bohemian, a marginalized society, consisted of artists and writers who defied social norms. Manuel Machado and Valle-Inclán, being less radical than the French, did not believe that writing should be done under the influence of alcohol. Machado and Inclán cultivated an image associated with gypsies.
Modernist poetry constructed an idealized space, often a garden, and an idealized time, typically a melancholic autumn or sunset. From 1900 to 1907, young poets imitated French Symbolism and Ruben Dario. Dario’s poetry was rebellious and flamboyant, filled with sensual references.
Evolution of Modernism
In 1907, two pivotal poetry books were published that combined fundamental aspects of Modernism: “Poetry” by Miguel de Unamuno and “Soledades” by Antonio Machado. Unamuno’s book established a philosophical Modernism that diverged from Dario and imitated other models. These books facilitated the inclusion of themes like regeneration in Modernist literature.
Spanish Avant-Garde Movements
Two avant-garde movements emerged in Spain:
- Ultraism: Minor writers who created the first Spanish avant-garde magazines.
- Creationism: Founded by Vicente Huidobro, it advocated a complete break with Western literary tradition, aiming to create a new world through poetry.
Key Figures in Spanish Modernism
Antonio Machado
Antonio Machado was born in Seville and died in Collioure, France, in 1939, a week after his mother. Machado’s ideology was consistently left-leaning, of a liberal Republican type. In one of his poems, he confesses to having Jacobin blood in his veins.
In 1903, he published his first book of poems, “Soledades.” This book emulated Ruben Dario’s poetry with many characteristics of French Symbolism. His second book, published in 1907, was an expanded version titled “Soledades, Galerías, Otros Poemas.” In this book, Machado removed poems that closely resembled Dario’s style and added new ones inspired by Bécquer. He also developed an interest in philosophy and created the concept of “soul galleries,” which are interior corridors where one can get to know oneself.
In 1912, he published “Campos de Castilla,” his most successful work. This book is significant for two reasons: it includes Machado’s first love poems dedicated to his deceased wife, Leonor, who appears in his poems under the name Leonor. In 1921, Machado published his last book of poems, “Nuevas Canciones.”
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez‘s most important period is his second, characterized by “Rimas.” In 1904, he wrote “Jardines Lejanos” while in a sanatorium. His third stage is known as “pure poetry.” Pure poetry became a model for the Generation of ’27. Poets wrote pure poetry before the Spanish Civil War.
In 1916, he married Zenobia Camprubí Aymar in New York. “Diario de un poeta recién casado” blended free verse with prose poetry for the first time in the 20th century. His fourth stage began after the Civil War, spanning from 1936 to 1958.
The Avant-Garde Movements
The avant-garde, like the vanguard of an army, leaves the rearguard to launch an offensive. The early avant-garde movements did not shy away from the violent connotations of the word.
Avant-garde movements are characterized by rejection of or reaction against Western traditions.
- Fauvism: A 19th-century movement that involved using vibrant, often clashing colors.
- Futurism: The first avant-garde movement, it developed primarily in Italy and Russia. Futurists celebrated war, technology, and focused their poetry on the great inventions of the 20th century. The most important Futurist was Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in Italy.
- Dadaism: Originating in Switzerland, Dadaism challenged logic and was embraced by figures like Tristan Tzara.
- Surrealism: Emerged in the 1920s when French writers and poets applied Sigmund Freud’s theories to literature. Surrealism aimed for a complete liberation of the unconscious, believing in the supremacy of imagination over reason, resulting in literature characterized by free association.