Realism and Avant-Garde Movements in European Art
Realism
Realism, a cultural movement emerging in the latter half of the 19th century, arose from the societal shifts of the era: the bourgeoisie’s rise to power, industrialization, urban expansion, and the proletariat’s emergence. Essentially, it was a reaction against Romanticism’s idealism. A contemporary definition states that realism strives for the precise, truthful reproduction of the social environment and times we inhabit, presented simply for universal comprehension.
The Novel: A Cornerstone of Realism
The novel became the defining literary genre of this movement, catering to a bourgeois audience. While some authors merely entertained or reinforced bourgeois morals, others critiqued bourgeois society from within, aiming to depict and reform it.
Key Themes and Representative Works
A recurring theme in realist novels is the clash between society and the individual. The issue of adultery holds particular significance, often portrayed within marriages constrained by social norms, featuring women lacking freedom and seeking solace in romantic affairs. Examples include Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, and Clarín’s La Regenta.
Realism’s Origins and Spread
Realism originated in France, with Balzac’s La Comédie Humaine often credited as the movement’s foundation. In Spain, it gained traction after 1868, with prominent figures like Juan Valera, José María de Pereda, Benito Pérez Galdós, Leopoldo Alas “Clarín”, and Emilia Pardo Bazán.
Benito Pérez Galdós and the “Novels of Contemporary Life”
Beyond La Regenta, Galdós’s “novels of contemporary life” are central to the movement. These twenty-plus novels, mostly set in Madrid, offer a multifaceted portrayal of late 19th-century Madrilenian life through a diverse cast of characters. Notable works include:
- La Desheredada: A young woman confined to an asylum, believing herself of aristocratic descent, ultimately descends into prostitution.
- Miau: Explores the hardships of an unemployed individual during the peaceful power shifts between Liberal and Conservative governments.
- Misericordia: Depicts the world of begging in Madrid.
- Fortunata y Jacinta: Considered one of the finest Spanish novels, blending historical fiction with the subtitle “Two Stories of Married Women.” It chronicles the intertwined lives of Juanito Santa Cruz, a wealthy Madrilenian, his wife Jacinta, and his mistress Fortunata.
Emilia Pardo Bazán’s Los Pazos de Ulloa
Los Pazos de Ulloa, a novel bridging Realism and Naturalism, is set in rural Galicia, where life is shaped by religion, superstition, politics, and primal passions. Its descriptive prowess, portrayal of the rural aristocracy’s decline, and depiction of intense emotions are its hallmarks.
Aesthetic Movements of the Avant-Garde
Following World War I, European art was marked by complexity, giving rise to avant-garde movements. These movements, in some instances, adopted radical stances and engaged in critiquing existing societal structures.
The Rise of Irrationalism
The profound crisis of values at the turn of the century led to a rejection of reason, deemed incapable of comprehending life. Irrationality and the unconscious were prioritized, reflected in art’s rejection of the figurative and embrace of modern forms of expression like photography, technology, and film. Beauty was no longer the sole pursuit, with ugliness gaining recognition as a significant artistic category.
Major Avant-Garde Movements
- Futurism: Celebrated modernity’s symbols: speed, machines, and power. It even glorified war and advocated for the destruction of institutions associated with traditional art. Prominent in Italy, its founder, Marinetti, aligned with fascism.
- Expressionism: A German-born movement that distorted the visual world to convey a tragic perception of life. Characterized by vibrant colors, dark humor, and an embrace of the grotesque. Painter Vasily Kandinsky exemplifies this movement.
- Cubism: Defined by a geometric spirit, Cubists deconstructed forms, breaking down volume and reducing them to geometric shapes. Picasso and Juan Gris are key figures.
- Abstraction: Abstract artists sought to create pure art, liberating painting’s elements from their usual representation of reality. The concept of pure poetry also emerged.
- Dadaism: In response to World War I’s upheaval, Dadaists embraced protest, irrationality, negation, and anarchy as reactions to perceived global absurdity.
- Surrealism: In 1924, André Breton published the First Surrealist Manifesto in Paris. Influenced by Dadaism and Sigmund Freud‘s The Interpretation of Dreams, Surrealists sought to access the subconscious through techniques like automatism (uncontrolled drawing or writing) and the juxtaposition of disparate images.
Hispanic Avant-Garde Movements
In the Hispanic world, Ultraism and Creationism were significant. Some Generation of ’27 writers actively participated in these movements, while others, like Federico García Lorca in Poet in New York and Vicente Aleixandre in Destruction or Love, contributed to Surrealism.