Modernist and Noucentista Catalan Literature
Modernist Theatre
Theatre Ideas
Regenerationist Theatre believes that theatre and its ideas can regenerate a materialistic society. It aims to change society through the ideas presented in the theatre, prompting viewers to reflect on societal issues. This movement sought to counteract the trend of frivolous and entertaining theatre, encouraging audiences to engage with meaningful content.
Joan Puig i Ferreter (1882-1956)
Puig i Ferreter aimed to disrupt the audience’s passive viewing experience. His works reflect on human existence, the individual, and society, featuring characters who grapple with vital resolutions and embrace their passions. Notable works include The Lady Love and Enchanted Waters. Ultimately, he opted for the bourgeois comedy style.
Henrik Ibsen and Ignasi Iglesias
The influence of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is evident in the adaptations by Ignasi Iglesias.
Symbolist Theatre
Symbolist Theatre believed in the power of symbols and aimed to create a complete spectacle. Influenced by the Belgian author Maurice Maeterlinck, Rusiñol attempted to incorporate symbolism into his works.
Santiago Rusiñol (1861-1931)
Rusiñol contributed significantly to high modernist drama. Auca del Senyor Esteve (Mr. Stephen’s Puppet Show) achieved great success, defending art and the figure of the artist. L’alegria que passa (The Joy That Passes) sought to integrate more artistic elements, exploring the desires of two characters within a confined timeframe.
Adrià Gual (1872-1943)
Gual, director of the Intim Theatre company, produced innovative works in a small format. He prioritized total art. Notable works include Silenci (Silence), Blancaflor, and El Misteri del dolor (The Mystery of Pain), which, unlike his symbolist tendencies, leans towards realism.
Modernist Narrative Art
Modernist Narrative Art is a significant contribution to Catalan literature. It explores both regenerationist and abstract ideas, demonstrating the human being’s subjection to fate. It suggests that man becomes a beast when he lacks will and spiritual capacity, emphasizing the path towards autonomy and commitment to freedom.
Víctor Català (Caterina Albert) (1869-1966)
Víctor Català, the pseudonym of Caterina Albert, was born into a wealthy landowner family. She won the Floral Games award in Olot at age 13, causing a scandal when she began signing her work as Víctor Català. She became a fundamental writer in Catalan modernism. Later, she felt marginalized due to the rejection of rural narrative by Noucentisme. Her works include Drames rurals (Rural Dramas), Ombrívoles (Shadowy), Caires Vius (Sharp Edges), and Solitud (Solitude). Solitud (1905) follows a character’s journey in search of a fulfilling life, portraying the struggle between rebellious will and the destructive force of human nature. This struggle is presented as a necessary sign of vitality.
Joaquim Ruyra (1858-1939)
Born in Blanes, Ruyra was a modernist writer who showed little interest in individual introspection. He was deeply sensitive to nature and employed symbolism extensively. His works include Marines i boscos (Seas and Woods), Jacobé, and Pinya de Rosa (Pineapple Rose).
Santiago Rusiñol (1861-1931)
Rusiñol was a multifaceted playwright, narrator, painter, and promoter. In his first stage, he explored symbolist art, writing poems in prose and prose poems with regenerationist themes. In his second stage, starting in 1907, he moved away from decadent aestheticism. El conte del senyor Esteve (The Tale of Mr. Stephen) depicts the confrontation between the artist and society.
Noucentisme
Noucentisme was not just a literary movement but also a political and intellectual one. It aimed to emphasize the new impetus given to the “noucents” (new ones).
Eugeni d’Ors
D’Ors coined the term “Noucentisme” and was its main ideologue, popularizing it through his newspaper column “Glosari.” This politico-cultural movement, spanning from 1906 to 1923, aimed to build an ideal Catalonia.
Enric Prat de la Riba
Prat de la Riba, a politician and president of the Barcelona Provincial Council and later the Commonwealth of Catalonia, implemented rationalist policies, building roads, schools, and museums. He commissioned Pompeu Fabra to standardize the Catalan language and established the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC).
Pompeu Fabra
Fabra, a linguist, approached the Catalan language scientifically. Commissioned by Prat de la Riba, he standardized the language and created a comprehensive dictionary.
Characteristics of Noucentisme
Based on classical ideals, Noucentisme emphasized civility, balance, and harmony. It sought to impose order on nature.
Stages of Noucentisme
- Consolidation (1906-1917): Initial development of the movement.
- Crisis (1918-1923): Challenges to the initial project.
Josep Carner (1884-1970)
Carner, a prominent Noucentista writer, created harmonious and idyllic poetry. He celebrated the connection between man and nature. In 1906, he published Els fruits saborosos (The Tasty Fruits), a collection of poems reflecting on ideals through feminine imagery. In the first stage of Noucentisme, he created idyllic spaces and contributed to the construction of an ideal Catalonia through his rich language. Carner promoted the idea of collective construction, stating, “We poets are the builders of towns.” He aimed to dignify the Catalan language by using a refined, classical, and precise style, distinguishing it from the more popular language of modernism. In 1914, with Auques i ventalls (Doggerel and Fans), he entered the second stage of Noucentisme and began a diplomatic career, distancing himself from the movement. El cor quiet (The Quiet Heart) reflects his travels around the world, while Nabí (1941), a single long poem, offers a metaphysical reflection. In the spring of 1943, he explored rural life in his work.