We explain what modernism is and in what historical context it arises. In addition, authors and most important works of this movement.
What is modernism?
In the context of literature In Spanish, modernism is known as a literary movement fundamentally poetic, developed between the 19th and 20th centuries (1880-1920) and that is understood as the Hispanic form of the universal crisis of letters and spirit that characterized the entry into contemporaneity.
Modernism was characterized by creative rebellion, a somewhat aristocratic and narcissistic refinement, as well as a cosmopolitan culturalism, but its most important contribution to Hispanic literature was its profound renewal of the language. So much so, that Latin American authors for the first time influenced the peninsular and set the tone for them, in what became known as "The return of the caravels”.
In this way, poems modernists tended to cultured language, to value American and indigenous themes, but at the same time they professed a devotion to Paris and cosmopolitan culture, as well as to women and idealized love. However, in his verses one can perceive the characteristic uneasiness of the romanticism, his anguish and deep melancholy. His poems were often accused of being escapist, of rejecting society and prefer fantasy.
The beginning of modernism is usually located in 1888 with the publication of the collection of poems Blue… of the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, whose impact on Hispanic literature was gigantic.Initially, the term used to designate the followers of this current (“modernists”) was used pejoratively, but as it was brandished with insolent pride by these poets, it ended up becoming the name of the movement.
Historical context of modernism
Modernism professes a powerful disagreement with the prevailing bourgeois culture at the time, which makes the movement an heir to nineteenth-century post-romanticism, similar to the artistic currents of Art Noveau (France and Belgium), Modern Style (England), Sezession ( Austria), Jugenstil (Germany), Liberty (USA) and Floreale (Italy).
According to some theorists, modernism was not only a literary movement, but also an artistic reflection of a much larger aspect, a spiritual crisis in the West that began with the twentieth century and lasted until the end of the twentieth century. First World War. Said crisis would consist of the desire to create order in a disharmonious and unstable world, and coincides with the definitive implantation of the capitalism as an economic and social model, as well as the decline of monarchies and great empires, most of which would dissolve during the 20th century.
Authors and works of modernism
The list of modernist authors and works is extremely extensive, since all Latin American countries participated in the movement, as well as Spain itself. However, a list of the best known includes the following:
- Rubén Darío (Nicaraguan, 1867-1916). Poet, journalist and diplomat, considered founder of modernism with his collection of poems .. , and famous for his poems secular prose , Songs of life and hope. The swans and other poems and his prose books The rare , pilgrimages Y history of my books , among many other works.
- Leopoldo Lugones (Argentine, 1874-1938). Poet, essayist and journalist with strong nationalist roots, forerunner of the fantastic story and Science fiction River Plate.He committed suicide by ingesting cyanide. His most famous poetic works are the mountains of gold Y The twilights of the garden , of strong symbolist influence.
- José Martí (Cuban, 1853-1895). Politician, journalist, thinker, philosopher and poet, founder of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, he died during the Cuban War of Independence, after having traveled throughout the continent and having written a work of poetry and prose of great value, in which the Chronicles of Our America and the poetry of Golden age (1878-1882) and flowers of exile (1878-1895).
- Jose Asuncion Silva (Colombian, 1865-1896). Poet and traveller, with a brief but important work, in which the the book of verses (1923, posthumous). He committed suicide by shooting himself in the heart at the age of 30.
- Amado Nervo (Mexican, 1859-1895). Journalist, poet and diplomat, he is famous for his friendship with Oscar Wilde in Paris and for his works The bachiller (novel, 1895) and the collections of poems Black pearls, Mystic Y the motionless lover (posthumous, 1922).
- Delmira Agustini (Uruguayan, 1886-1914). Poet from wealthy sectors of society, whose education allowed him to appear despite the discriminations macho of the time. stand out in their work the white book , the empty chalices Y sexual correspondence (posthumous, 1969).
- Manuel Machado (Spanish, 1874-1947). Poet and playwright, brother of the famous poet Antonio Machado, he published an extensive poetic work in which Soul , the songs Y the bad poem , among many others.
- Manuel Diaz Rodriguez (Venezuelan, 1871-1927). Essayist, novelist and short story writer, among whose most relevant works are the novels broken idols Y patrician blood as well as tests Prose of art, justice and devotion Y Among the flowering hills .