Postwar to Present: A Journey Through Spanish Literature
From Desolation to Integration
The literary period spanning from the Spanish Civil War to the present is often divided into decades to better understand its complexity. Each decade marks a stage in the thematic and aesthetic transformation experienced by Spanish authors. Those who remained in the country moved from the desolation and isolation of the postwar years to a gradual integration with European and South American literature. Authors in exile continued their creative work, with their publications often receiving recognition in countries other than their own.
Key Literary Developments by Decade
The 1940s: Censorship and Existentialism
Death and impoverishment marked the literary exile of the 1940s. Censorship played a significant role, and authors often fell into two groups based on their affinity or rejection of the political regime. Some opted for religious themes, while others focused on intimate and everyday life. Two stylistic tendencies emerged: one respecting traditional forms and another embracing a more spontaneous and direct approach.
The 1950s: The Rise of Realism
Authors in the 1950s increasingly reflected the world around them. Realism, seen as a form of social commentary, gained prominence and extended to other art forms like film and painting.
The 1960s: New Trends Emerge
Spanish emigration to Europe, the rise of tourism, and the growing influence of media transformed society in the 1960s. This allowed for new literary trends that deviated from realism.
The 1970s: Democracy and Cultural Revitalization
The establishment of a democratic political system in the 1970s revitalized all areas of culture. Various literary genres flourished, avant-garde movements appeared, and Iberian languages experienced a resurgence.
The 1980s to Present: A Diverse Literary Landscape
By the 1980s, some postwar authors had become classics. A variety of aesthetic and thematic tendencies coexisted, although classification remained challenging due to a lack of historical perspective. This period showcased the great vitality of Spanish literature.
The Lyric: A Dominant Genre
Lyric poetry was the most cultivated and innovative genre in early 20th-century Spanish literature. However, the Civil War had a profound impact. The deaths of poets like Miguel de Unamuno, Antonio Machado, Federico García Lorca, and Miguel Hernández, and the exile of others like Juan Ramón Jiménez, Pedro Salinas, Rafael Alberti, and Luis Cernuda, disrupted its natural evolution.
Connections between postwar poets and earlier generations were gradually established. Key influences included Dámaso Alonso, a member of the Generation of ’27 who remained in Spain; Miguel Hernández, considered by some as the last representative of the Generation of ’27; and Antonio Machado, whose sensitivity to landscape and its connection to mood was widely imitated.
Poetry in the Postwar Era
The 1940s: Rooted and Uprooted Poetry
- Rooted Poetry: Identified with the postwar political regime, this style, represented by authors like Dionisio Ridruejo, Luis Felipe Vivanco, and Luis Rosales, was disseminated through journals like Escorial and Garcilaso. Patriotic, religious, and love themes were common, often expressed in sonnet form.
- Uprooted or Existential Poetry: Poets like Dámaso Alonso, Victoriano Crémer, Eugenio de Nora, and Ángela Figuera expressed the anxieties of living in a chaotic and unjust world. Their style, often published in the journal Espadaña, was characterized by direct language and stark imagery.
The 1950s: Social Poetry
Social poetry emerged, focusing on the negative realities of human existence. This style, with roots in the Generation of ’98 and the work of poets like Miguel Hernández, prioritized the analysis of the country’s challenges using simple language. Blas de Otero and Gabriel Celaya were leading figures, employing free verse to express their views.
The 1960s: The Children of War
The”Children of Wa” generation, who were between 8 and 11 years old at the outbreak of the Civil War, explored themes of childhood, adolescence, and personal reflections on identity within a changing society. Their work was characterized by an intimate tone, clear language, and some liberties in verse and punctuation. Notable authors included José Ángel Valente, José Manuel Caballero Bonald, Jaime Gil de Biedma, Carlos Barral, and José Agustín Goytisolo.
The 1970s to Present: The New Avant-Garde
The Generation of ’70 revisited avant-garde movements, particularly surrealism, drawing inspiration from the pre-Civil War Generation of ’27. Influenced by media and current events, their poems reflected both political and personal themes. Their style was marked by a freedom of graphic expression, including calligrams, varied capitalization, and changes in calligraphy. Notable poets included Pere Gimferrer, Fernando Millán, Ana María Moix, Ángel González, and José María Guelbenzu.