Baroque Literature: Cultism, Conceptism, and Key Figures
Baroque Literature: Cultism and Conceptism
The Baroque was an artistic and literary movement that developed in the 17th century, originating in Italy and spreading throughout Europe. It was characterized by elaborate ornamentation, dramatic contrasts, and a focus on emotional expression.
Baroque Literary Styles
- Cultism: Characterized by elaborate language, cultured vocabulary, and the use of hyperbole. It emphasized the *how to say* things. Cultism was heavily influenced by the Spanish poet Luis de Gongora, and is also known as Gongorism.
- Conceptism: Marked by the interplay of ideas and concepts, employing logical reasoning and refined rhetoric. It focused on *what to say*. One of the main proponents of Conceptism was the Spanish writer Francisco de Quevedo.
Origins and Characteristics of Baroque
Baroque art first manifested in the visual arts, then spread to literature, theater, and music. It emerged in a historical context marked by the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation, where the Catholic Church had lost considerable power and influence. Nevertheless, Catholicism continued to shape the political, economic, and religious landscape of Europe.
Baroque art reflected the contrasts of this period, juxtaposing the spirituality and theocentrism of the Middle Ages with the rationalism and anthropocentrism of the Renaissance. Baroque artists were often sponsored by monarchs, the bourgeoisie, and the clergy. Their works, particularly paintings and sculptures, expressed intense emotions and detailed depictions of human life.
Key Figures in Baroque Literature
Father Antonio Vieira
Father Antonio Vieira was a Portuguese preacher known for his Conceptist style, which contrasted with Gongorism. He skillfully manipulated ideas and concepts, following the rhetorical teachings of the Jesuits.
Gregorio de Matos Guerra
Gregorio de Matos Guerra was a prominent Brazilian Baroque poet. He masterfully employed both Cultist and Conceptist styles. In his lyrical and religious poetry, he clearly expressed Renaissance idealism alongside the conflict between sin and forgiveness. He sought the purity of faith while simultaneously acknowledging the need to live a worldly life. This contradiction perfectly situated him within the Brazilian Baroque school. His work also reflects a nascent nativist movement, distinguishing between what is Brazilian and the exploitation by Lisbon.
Themes in Baroque Poetry
Amorous Lyrical Poetry
- Love is portrayed as a source of both pleasure and suffering.
- Women are depicted as angels and sources of perdition, awakening carnal desire.
Religious Lyrical Poetry
- The author is divided between sin and virtue, feeling guilt for sin and seeking salvation.
- Sin is seen as a human error but also as the only way to receive God’s forgiveness.
- The lyrical self often behaves like a lawyer making a self-defense before God, even using passages from the Bible.
Philosophical Lyrical Poetry
- Pessimism and anguish in the face of life.
- Addresses the disillusionment with the world and the instability of material goods.