Noucentisme and the Avant-Garde in 20th Century Spain
Noucentisme and the Avant-Garde: A Historical Context
Following the devastation of World War I, Europe faced widespread economic depression, giving rise to totalitarian regimes like Italian Fascism. Spain, however, maintained neutrality. Its desire for modernization and rebellion manifested in two key movements during the latter half of the 20th century: Noucentisme and the Avant-Garde.
Noucentisme (Generation of ’14)
This cultural movement emerged in the second decade of 20th-century Spain, also known as the Generation of ’14 due to the outbreak of World War I. Unlike the bohemian Modernists, Noucentists were skilled professionals who looked to Europe as a model. They sought practical solutions to the country’s problems, departing from the characteristic complaints of the Generation of ’98.
Key Features of Noucentisme:
- Rationalism: Emphasized intellectual rigor and a focus on circumstances.
- Anti-Romanticism: Rejected sentimentality, favoring intellectual expression over emotional outpourings.
- Defense of Pure Art: Art should provide aesthetic pleasure and not be concerned with autobiography, emotions, etc.
- Intellectual Elitism: Literature was intended for an elite audience, as exemplified by Juan Ramón Jiménez’s concept of writing for the “vast minority.”
- Meticulous Style: An ideal of “a job well done” focusing on structure, style, and precise language. José Ortega y Gasset is a prime example.
Key Works by José Ortega y Gasset:
- España invertebrada (Invertebrate Spain)
- La deshumanización del arte (The Dehumanization of Art)
- La rebelión de las masas (The Revolt of the Masses)
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Jiménez’s work displays a significant evolution, marked by three distinct stages:
- Sensitive Period (until 1915): Influenced by Modernism, featuring intimate and melancholic poetry. Notable works include Arias tristes and Jardines lejanos. This period also saw the development of a style characterized by adjectives, descriptions, and synesthesia, as seen in Sonidos de la soledad (1908).
- Intellectual Period: Beginning with Diario de un poeta recién casado (1917), Jiménez breaks with Modernism. He pursues “pure poetry,” aiming to condense meaning and express the essential with minimal words. Key works include Eternidades (1918), Piedra y cielo (1918), and Estación total (1946), exploring themes of eternity, nature, and beauty.
- “Enough” or True Reality Period: Corresponding to his years in exile, the metaphysical nature of his earlier work softens. His most famous prose poem is Platero y yo.
The Avant-Garde
Developing in Europe during the first third of the 20th century, the Avant-Garde’s influence reached Spain by the end of the first decade. Its spread coincided with Noucentisme, sharing some characteristics but ultimately aiming to break with 19th-century art. Common features include:
- Experimentation
- Desire for a new art form
- Rejection of the past artistic tradition
Key Avant-Garde Movements:
Futurism
Represented by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Futurism embraced the future and rejected the past. It celebrated modern life, technology, and machinery.
Cubism
Represented by Guillaume Apollinaire, Cubism influenced writers through its focus on visual composition. Calligrams, using typography to create visual shapes and suggest meaning, are a key example.
Surrealism
Led by André Breton, Surrealism explored the subconscious, dreams, and illogical aspects of human thought. Surprising imagery and metaphors are characteristic.
Creationism and Ultraism
With the arrival of Chilean poet Vicente Huidobro in Madrid, Spain saw the rise of Creationism. Huidobro advocated for creating new realities through unexpected metaphorical associations. Creationism paved the way for Ultraism, which sought to “see with new eyes” (José Luis Borges) and rejected sentimentality. Ramón Gómez de la Serna, associated with Ultraism, created the “greguería,” short texts presenting surprising associations from everyday elements.