We explain what modernism is and in what historical context it emerged. Also, most important authors and works of this movement.
What is modernism?
In the context of literature in Spanish, modernism is known as a fundamentally poetic literary movement developed between the 19th and 20th centuries (1880-1920) and is understood as the Hispanic form of the universal crisis of letters and the spirit that characterized the entry into contemporary times.
modernism was characterized by creative rebellion a somewhat aristocratic and narcissistic refinement, as well as a cosmopolitan culturalism, but his most important contribution to Hispanic literature was his profound renewal of language. So much so, that Latin American authors for the first time influenced the peninsular authors and set the tone for them, in what was known as “The return of the caravels”.
In this way, modernist poems tended towards cultured language, to value American and indigenous themes, but at the same time professed a devotion to Paris and cosmopolitan culture as well as for women and idealized love. However, in his verses one can perceive the characteristic unease of romanticism, its anguish and deep melancholy. His poems were often accused of being escapist, of rejecting society and preferring fantasy.
The beginning of modernism is usually located in 1888 with the publication of the poetry collection 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 wielded with insolent pride by these poets, it ended up becoming the name of the movement.
See also: Existentialism
Historical context of modernism
modernism professes a powerful disagreement with the bourgeois culture prevailing at the time which makes the movement an heir to the post-romanticism of the 19th century, 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 of the West that began with the 20th century and lasted until the First World War. This crisis would consist of the desire to create order in an inharmonious and unstable world, and coincides with the definitive implementation of capitalism as an economic and social model, as well as the decline of monarchies and great empires, most of which are 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 .. (1888), and famous for his collections of poems profane prose (1896), Songs of life and hope. The swans and other poems (1905) and his prose books The rare ones (1896), Pilgrimages (1901) and History of my books (1916), among many other works.
- Leopoldo Lugones (Argentine, 1874-1938) Poet, essayist and journalist with strong nationalist roots, precursor of fantasy and science fiction stories from the River Plate. He committed suicide by ingesting cyanide. His most famous poetic works are The mountains of gold (1897) and The twilights of the garden (1905), with a strong symbolist influence.
- José Martí (Cuban, 1853-1895) Politician, journalist, thinker, philosopher and poet, founder of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, died during the Cuban War of Independence, after having traveled throughout the continent and having written a poetic and prose work of great value, in which the chronicles of Our America (1891) and the poems of Golden age (1878-1882) and Flowers of exile (1878-1895).
- José Asunción Silva (Colombian, 1865-1896) Poet and traveler, with a brief but important work, in which he stands out 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 bachelor (novel, 1895) and the collections of poems Black pearls, Mystical (1898) and The motionless beloved (posthumously, 1922).
- Delmira Agustini (Uruguayan, 1886-1914) Poet from wealthy sectors of society, whose education allowed him to appear despite the sexist discrimination of the time. They stand out in their work The white paper (1907), The empty chalices (1913) and Sexual correspondence (posthumous, 1969).
- Manuel Machado (Spanish, 1874-1947) Poet and playwright, brother of the famous poet Antonio Machado, published an extensive poetic work in which stand out Soul (1902), The songs (1905) and The bad poem (1909), among many others.
- Manuel Díaz Rodríguez (Venezuelan, 1871-1927) Essayist, novelist and short story writer, among whose most relevant works are novels broken idols (1901) and Patrician blood (1902), as well as the essays Proses of art, justice and devotion (1918) and Among the flowering hills (1935).
