Catalan Nationalism & Noucentisme: 19th-20th Century Culture
The Bourgeoisie and Catalan Consciousness (19th Century)
The nineteenth century was the great age of the bourgeoisie. In Catalonia, it was the formative period of Catalan consciousness. In 1892, the Bases de Manresa were drafted, a Catalan platform reflecting conservative traditionalist thinking. In 1901, a group of industrialists, unhappy with the Madrid government’s policy, created the Lliga Regionalista, the first Catalan nationalist and bourgeois party. The bourgeoisie remained dominant in Catalan society, criticizing the state government for its inefficiency and corruption, while simultaneously requesting its intervention in controlling the workers’ movement.
The Commonwealth and Political Shifts (Early 20th Century)
The Commonwealth of Catalonia (1914)
In 1914, the Commonwealth of Catalonia was established, a new entity bringing together the four Catalan provincial councils. It was very important in the modernization of Catalonia: it founded the Library of Catalonia, led the Institute of Catalan Studies, and created a network of libraries and museums.
Primo de Rivera’s Coup (1923)
The 1923 coup d’état by Primo de Rivera, who sought the unity of Spain, banned all political parties, including Catalan nationalists, and abolished the Commonwealth.
Noucentisme: A Cultural and Political Movement
Noucentisme emerged in the early twentieth century, distinct from Modernism. Both movements shared the idea of reforming society, Europeanism, fighting for a literary language suitable for all uses, and rejecting the aesthetics of the nineteenth century. The significant difference was that Noucentisme had the backing of political power, which Modernism lacked.
Noucentisme advocated for an art based on classical principles, well-executed work, and formal perfection. It prioritized reason and intellect over feelings and instincts; it supported achievable, short-term projects beneficial to the bourgeoisie, moving away from utopian ideals.
The Noucentista Program
The Noucentista program consisted of:
- The creation, by the Commonwealth, of cultural and educational centers that transmitted Noucentista ideology: the IEC (Institute of Catalan Studies), Library of Catalonia, Popular Libraries, and the School of Librarians and Nurses.
- The establishment of the literary language. The task of linguistic regulation was fundamental to the language department of the IEC, chaired by Pompeu Fabra. In 1913, the Normes ortogrà fiques (Orthographic Rules) were promulgated.
- Building cultural infrastructures, such as publications, newspapers, and publishing companies.
Key Figures of Noucentisme
Eugeni d’Ors (1881-1954)
Eugeni d’Ors was the ideologue of Noucentisme. He authored the Glossari, a collection of articles and essays on various topics, and La Ben Plantada, a work showcasing Noucentista values and ethics through the literary description of a woman symbolizing the ideal Catalonia.
D’Ors’s Core Concepts
The Noucentista ideas presented in his glosses were based on these concepts:
- Noucentisme: Refers to the beginning of the century and the adjective ‘nou’ (new).
- Classicism: Recovering classical culture and aesthetics, based on order and harmony.
- Mediterraneanism: Valuing the Mediterranean to help modernize Catalonia. The Mediterranean Sea is seen as a bridge between Catalonia and the Greco-Latin world.
- Civility and Urbanity: The city is the ideal place for order and civilization.
- Imperialism: The Catalan bourgeoisie must aspire to the creation of a modern state and must change its politics.
- Cultivation of Poetry: Emphasizing harmony and wisdom; accurate expression, and vernacularism clean of impurities.
Josep Carner (1884-1970)
Josep Carner‘s literary precocity manifested early; at 12 years old, he began participating in literary competitions and winning. He was a member of the IEC and participated in language standardization. He opted for a diplomatic career, which kept him away from Catalonia. After the Civil War, this distance became a forced exile, first in Mexico and then in Brussels, where he died. He is known as the “prince of poets”.
Carner’s Poetic Works and Themes
His most prominent works include:
- Els fruits saborosos (The Tasty Fruits, 1906)
- Auques i ventalls (Picture Stories and Fans, 1914)
- La paraula en el vent (The Word in the Wind, 1914)
- El cor quiet (The Quiet Heart, 1925)
- Nabi (1941)
His poetry addresses several themes: nature, city life, and reflections on life. The language used is very rich and detailed, full of stylistic and cultural resources; he often employs the sonnet form. Nature appears orderly, gentle, and idyllically harmonious. For Carner, the purpose of poetry is not primarily the expression of feelings; rather, formal craft and intellect are more important.