Valencian Romanticism and the Renaixença Movement
1.4 Topics of Romanticism
The “Wrong Century”
The melancholy mood that preceded many young Romantic authors. The necessity of escape from reality.
The Nostalgia of the Past
The yearning for escape led many authors to admire the institution of chivalry.
The “I”
The “I” became the essential Romantic source of inspiration. This led to the rejection of classical artistic rules, considered artificial and inadequate to express the complexity of the human spirit.
Nature
Romantics often poured their feelings into descriptions of nature, frequently using personification.
The Suffering of the People
Romantics felt the injustice of poverty. Following Rousseau’s “noble savage” theory, they idealized the impoverished condition and social behavior of some people.
The Awakening of National Identity
The study of history and reality unveiled national consciousness in several countries.
1.5 Romanticism in Valencia
Two factors contributed to its spread:
- Trade with Europe through the ports of Valencia and Alicante introduced new literary and artistic trends.
- Valencia possessed a remarkable publishing infrastructure.
The first Romantic author in Valencia was Antonio Maria Boix.
The Renaixença
The Renaixença refers to the cultural, linguistic, and literary revival following a period of decline. Aligned with European Romantic movements, it aimed to rediscover national identity through language and folk traditions. The bourgeoisie became the driving force behind this awareness.
2.2 Factors of the Renaixença
Social and Political Transformations
The second half of the 19th century saw social and political changes that contributed to the development and awareness of the bourgeoisie.
- Translations of major Romantic authors like Chateaubriand, Byron, Walter Scott, Victor Hugo, Dumas, and Leopardi.
- The emergence of liberal journals such as Europa, El Propagador de la Libertad, and El Vapor.
2.3 Chronology of the Renaixença
The movement consolidated in 1871 with the publication of the magazine Renaixensa. The publication of Carles Aribau’s “Ode to the Homeland” in El Vapor is considered a key event. Constantí Llombart received an award for his poem at the Jocs Florals, and Àngel Guimerà was proclaimed “Master en Gai Saber”.
2.4 The Renaixença in Valencia
The Valencian Renaixença faced challenges from the start. The region’s agricultural economy, lacking the industrial impact that fueled the bourgeoisie elsewhere, favored a regionalist movement.