Noucentisme: A Cultural Movement in Catalonia
Noucentisme was a Catalan cultural and artistic movement that emerged in the early 20th century. It represented the alliance between the bourgeoisie and intellectuals. Eugenio d’Ors, the ideologue of the movement, coined the term Noucentisme.
Stages of Noucentisme
- 1906-1917: The movement’s peak years, influenced by Eugeni d’Ors’s yearly “glossary.” Josep Carner’s “The Tasty Fruits” stands out.
- 1917-1923: Noucentisme began to decline due to social and political conflicts, and confrontations between workers and employers. Coups by Primo de Rivera and the death of Prat de la Riba, Enric Granados, and Eugenio d’Ors.
Aesthetics of Noucentisme
- Civility: The mythical idea of a society without conflict, based on the idea of the Greek polis.
- Classicism: Inspired by the Greco-Latin classical world, advocating for work based on reason.
- Mediterraneanism: A return to the values and Mediterranean origins of ancient Greece and Rome.
Literature in Noucentisme
Noucentisme considered that the genres that could best express the ideological and aesthetic approaches of the moment were the essay (Eugenio d’Ors) and poetry (Josep Carner). Over the years, Noucentisme also incorporated narrative and dramatic genres.
Noucentista Poetry
Noucentista poetry was based on:
- Interest in classicism and rejection of naturalism and romanticism, and spontaneous inspiration.
- Rejection of artificiality and defense of well-made work.
- Valuation of a rich and precise literary language.
Key Poets
- Josep Carner: A leading Noucentista poet. “The Tasty Fruits” includes eight poems describing the passage of time (childhood, old age, and maturity). He abandoned symbolism and explored Noucentista aesthetics.
- Guerau de Liost: Pseudonym of Jaume Bofill i Mates. He published “The Mountain of Amethysts,” which recreates the idealized landscape of Montseny. “Satires” describes contemporary society ironically.
Vocabulary
- Tape: Train boat used for fishing.
- Light boat: Small boat.
- Aground: Made by water.
- Scaffolding: Boat.
- Head: Piece of rope.
- Breaststroke: Equivalent size to 1.67 meters.
- Topography: The set of peculiarities present on a ground surface.
- Cellar: Basement.
- Court: Closed space intended for livestock.
- Catpaxo: Novice rabbit.
- Mantelpiece: Landscape on the wall.
- Esbalçader: Precipice.
- Couplet: To marinate.
Modernism
Modernist Poetry
Above all stands the figure of Joan Maragall, an intellectual who engaged with his time and was attentive to new European trends. Maragall also stood out for his essays, “In Praise of the Word” and “In Praise of Poetry.” Maragall’s poetic thinking was based on the theory of the “living word,” which presents the poet as someone in contact with nature. Maragall’s first book, “Poetry,” was published by some friends and included poems written in Castilian.
Works by Maragall:
- Poems
- Songs and Visions
- Beyond
- Disperses
- Sequences
Modernist Theater
Modernist artists considered theater a free genre, the most complete, linking all arts and allowing the expression and dissemination of the movement’s ideas. Modernist theater opened up to new European trends, including naturalistic drama.
Naturalistic Drama
The aim was to denounce social injustice and awaken the consciousness of citizens. The role model was Henrik Ibsen, who wrote realistic works. Joan Puig i Ferrater is the most important author of this regenerationist and naturalist current. Known for his theoretical reflections, with social and moral reflection, in “Enchanted Waters.”
Symbolist Theater
Symbolist theater rejected social claims and considered that art could only dignify the world through beauty, and the artist was in charge of guiding society on that path. This theater wanted to draw the viewer’s attention. In Catalonia, the work of Santiago Rusiñol was influential. Rusiñol is the most popular and famous of Modernist theater. He made some publications, promoted the Modernist party at Cau Ferrat in Sitges, and worked as “Mr. Esteve” in storybooks.