Modernism and Generation of ’98: Late 19th Century Spain
The Crisis of the Late 19th Century in Spain
In late 19th century Spain, two movements emerged in opposition to Realism: Modernism and the Generation of ’98.
Historical and Cultural Context
Two key historical events shaped this period:
- The Colonial Wars: The loss of Cuba and Puerto Rico in 1898, known as the “Disaster of ’98,” triggered an economic crisis.
- The Restoration Crisis: Alfonso XIII ascended to the throne in 1902 at the age of 16. Political instability marked this era, with Liberals and Conservatives alternating in power. In 1923, Primo de Rivera suspended the 1876 constitution and established a dictatorial regime.
Social Context
The growing crisis exacerbated social inequalities. Workers and peasants faced poverty, while the working class enjoyed a better quality of life. This disparity fueled the rise of the labor movement.
Cultural Context
Spain was experiencing significant delays in various areas, including education. Efforts were made to improve education and combat illiteracy, with some initiatives being religious and others secular.
Art in the Time of Crisis
Modernism focused on the pursuit of beauty, while the Generation of ’98, a group of intellectuals, expressed deep concern about the country’s situation. Both movements shared a spirit of protest and a desire for aesthetic renovation.
Differences
- Modernism: Concerned with beauty and feelings, it often escaped the perceived ugliness of reality by creating ideal worlds. It championed a refined, sensual style, stimulating the senses. Its primary genre was lyric poetry.
- Generation of ’98: Focused on Spain’s situation, expressing pessimism about its state. Artists sought the essence of Spain through its past and landscape. It favored a simple style, with prominent genres including lyric poetry, narrative, theater, and essays.
Similarities
Both movements exhibited a rebellious attitude towards reality and advocated for aesthetic renewal in opposition to Realism.
Modernism
Modernism was an artistic movement of the late 19th century that arrived in Spain from Latin America. The most important author of this movement was Ruben Dario. His book *Azul* (1888) is considered the first work of Modernism. Modernists viewed Realism as vulgar and sought to renovate language and restore its beauty.
Magical Realism
Magical Realism finds its basis in the indigenous worldview, where legends are accepted as real. Its motto could be “Faith does not require evidence.” It involves the introduction of a magical element into everyday reality, accepted without emotion by the protagonists as an extraordinary event.
Modernist Poetry
The main objective of Modernist poetry is beauty, with lyric poetry being the most commonly used form.
- Metrics: It pursues musicality and rhythm. Lines often have ten syllables and rhyme with acute dodecasyllables.
- Style: It is elevated and refined. Poems often feature symbols and alliteration to evoke feelings.
The Generation of ’98
The Generation of ’98 was a group of Spanish writers active at the end of the 19th century. They were all roughly the same age and were deeply affected by the Disaster of ’98. The Generation of ’98 emerged from Modernism. These writers were concerned about the major crisis in Spain. Key figures include Valle-Inclan, Pio Baroja, Azorin, Antonio Machado, and Miguel Unamuno, all of whom considered him a mentor.
Themes
- The most important theme is the situation in Spain, reflected in an appreciation for past literature, the study of history, and the description of the Castilian landscape.
- Another prominent theme is existentialism. These writers grappled with the meaning of life and suffered from a lack of answers to their existential questions.