Art Nouveau and Modernism: A Deep Dive
Art Nouveau and Modernism
The Conflict Between Artist and Society
One of the basic conflicts of Modernism is the breakdown between the artist and society. This conflict expresses dissatisfaction with a bourgeoisie perceived as culturally insensitive and failing to fulfill its role as a ruling class. Many modernist literary works explored this theme, portraying the artist’s struggle against bourgeois rejection and contempt, often leading to a bohemian lifestyle.
Two Attitudes Among Art Nouveau Artists
Two main attitudes manifested among Art Nouveau artists:
- Aestheticism: Some artists, driven by the principle of “art for art’s sake,” viewed their creative process as a spiritual experience, contrasting with societal materialism. These aesthetes sought acceptance and professional recognition.
- Social Critique: Other intellectuals and writers aimed to change society through critical activity and ideological literature. These reformers often engaged in political activism to achieve their goals.
Modernism’s Rise to Popularity
By the late nineteenth century, Modernism shifted from pessimistic decadentism to enthusiastic vitality. Modernist writers increasingly embraced political activity to influence society and contribute to a representative art and literature. This marked Modernism’s transition into established literature.
Joan Maragall: Poet and Essayist
Influence and Contributions
Joan Maragall, a key figure in Catalan Modernism, significantly impacted the literary society of his time with his realistic tone, sincerity, and exploration of the relationship between feelings and nature, evident in his theory of the living word. Maragall’s work reveals the influence of Nietzsche’s philosophy, manifested in an optimistic vitalism. Beyond poetry, Maragall contributed as an essayist and journalist, expressing his opinions in newspapers.
“The Blind Cow”
In “The Blind Cow,” Maragall conveys his subjective perception, not a mere description of the scene. His poetic approach, distinct from Romanticism, reflects a Modernist sensibility, presenting the situation through symbolic correspondences.
The Majorcan School
Miquel Costa i Llobera and Joan Alcover represent the Majorcan School, a branch of Modernism that revived Romanticism while avoiding its excesses. Costa i Llobera’s classicism and Alcover’s realism tempered romantic tendencies, yet their themes and poetic forms remained within the Modernist era.
Victor Català and Solitude
Víctor Català, author of the prominent Modernist novel Solitude, became a critic of Modernism and Catalan literature. Solitude follows Mila, a woman seeking an autonomous existence. The novel’s symbolism distinguishes it from realism-naturalism, exploring the modernist theme of individual self-discovery.
Santiago Rusiñol: A Multifaceted Artist
Symbolism, Decadence, and Total Art
Santiago Rusiñol’s artistic personality encompassed diverse voices, including symbolism and decadence, as seen in Prayers. This work exemplifies the concept of total art, integrating various artistic languages into a unified creation, advocating for beauty and art as a form of religion.
The Tale of Mr. Esteve: Artist vs. Society Revisited
The Tale of Mr. Esteve revisits the conflict between artist and society, but with a less anti-bourgeois perspective than earlier works. Rusiñol portrays a struggle for an enlightened bourgeoisie, using the popular character Mr. Esteve to represent the Barcelona bourgeoisie. Rusiñol’s approach to customs allows him to portray an idealized Barcelona, generalizing archetypes of the Catalan bourgeoisie.