Modernism: Art, Society, and Catalan Identity
Modernism: A Clash Between Art and Society
Born in the late nineteenth century, Modernism, influenced by journals like Advances, embraced the era’s most dynamic ideas. Young intellectuals sought to be open to ideas and art forms dominating the cultural life of various Western countries. They felt the need to shed the folk elements of the Renaissance and localist views, aiming to establish a Catalan identity understood as a modern European expression.
A fundamental conflict of Modernism was the rupture between the artist and society. This conflict expressed dissatisfaction with a bourgeoisie perceived as failing to fulfill its role as rulers, highlighting cultural instability. Modernist literary works reveal this conflict as the movement’s core, pitting the artist against the rejection and contempt of the bourgeoisie, often leading to a bohemian lifestyle. Artists preferred living in poor conditions, dedicated to their craft, and felt detached from social conventions. They aimed to modernize art and literature, transmitting their ideals to society.
Two Attitudes Within Modernism (circa 1893)
- Art for Art’s Sake: A group of artists motivated by the defense of art for art’s sake, experiencing the creative process as a spiritual endeavor, in contrast to the materialism of society.
- Social Criticism: Another group of intellectuals and writers aspired to change society through criticism and review of the system, employing a more openly ideological literature, often termed regenerationist.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the movement embraced the enthusiastic vitality derived from the philosophy of Nietzsche.
Joan Maragall (1869-1911)
Joan Maragall achieved a significant impact on the literary society of his time, particularly through his pursuit of realism and sincerity. His work emphasized the relationship between his feelings and nature, manifested in his theory of the living word. Early in his literary career, Maragall established principles that guided his dedication to poetry, exemplified by his poem “Ode Infinite,” published in 1868. He sought to capture the beauty and harmony of the world and communicate it, despite inevitable imperfections, revealing the romanticism inherent in this poetic choice.
Maragall played a crucial role in the trajectory of Modernism. His most important contributions stemmed from the positive influence of Nietzsche, which shaped his personality and intellectual attitudes. This influence manifested in an optimistic vitalism, a trend highly represented in the modernist movement. His worldview and conception of art shaped the nationalist background that underpinned his poetic works, notably Visions and Songs (circa 1900). Maragall engaged in an investigation of the elements that characterize Catalan identity.