Spanish Avant-Garde & Generation of ’27: A Literary Overview
Spanish Avant-Garde and the Generation of ’27
Introduction
The avant-garde artistic movements of the early 20th century embraced anti-realism, irrationality, originality, and aesthetic experimentation. Key movements include:
- Futurism: Celebrated technology and modernity.
- Cubism: Fragmented reality and perspective.
- Dadaism: Rebelled against logic and embraced absurdity.
- Surrealism: Liberated creative power and explored the unconscious.
- Ultraism: Emphasized unsentimental and dehumanized art.
- Creationism: Departed from reality and focused on artistic creation itself.
Key figures in Spain included Ramón Gómez de la Serna, who translated the Futurist Manifesto, and Vicente Huidobro, founder of Creationism. The translation of Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto further fueled the movement. Ramón Gómez de la Serna, a prolific writer, defined his “Greguería” as “Humor + Metaphor.”
The Generation of ’27
The Generation of ’27, a group of Spanish poets, emerged in the 1920s. This group, christened by Dámaso Alonso, shared close friendships and similar publishing dates. Key influences included Juan Ramón Jiménez and José Ortega y Gasset.
Stages of the Generation of ’27
- First Stage (until 1927): Influenced by early avant-garde, pure poetry, and Neopopularism.
- Second Stage (1927-1939): A re-humanization process coinciding with the rise of Surrealism.
- Third Stage (Post-Civil War): The group dispersed due to the war and exile, with each poet following their own path.
Themes and Styles
The Generation of ’27 poets blended tradition and innovation, drawing on Neopopularism, classicism, and avant-garde techniques. Key themes included:
- Love and passion (Salinas, Lorca, Cernuda)
- Longing for childhood (Alberti)
- Joyful moments of life (Guillén)
- The modern city and technology (Salinas)
- Reality vs. dreams (Cernuda)
- Dehumanization of the modern world (Lorca)
- War, exile, and rootlessness (Post-Civil War)
Key Poets of the Generation of ’27
Pedro Salinas
Salinas focused on the essence of things, exploring themes of love and life’s perfection. His work is characterized by its unique lexicon. Key work: Voice Due to You
Jorge Guillén
Guillén’s poetry is known for its rigorous selection process. His main theme is the contemplation and recovery of reality, exploring subthemes of being, time, and chaos. Key work: Cántico
Gerardo Diego
Diego blended avant-garde and traditional styles, showcasing technical mastery and knowledge of verse and language. Key work: Manual de Espumas
Dámaso Alonso
While a member of the Generation of ’27, Alonso was primarily known as a critic. His most important poetic work is Hijos de la Ira.
Rafael Alberti
Alberti’s poetry is characterized by its diverse themes, tones, and styles, ranging from pure poetry to traditional, baroque, and avant-garde. Key work: Marinero en Tierra
Luis Cernuda
Cernuda’s work reflects his life, exploring themes of loneliness, longing for a livable world, and love. His works are grouped under the title La Realidad y el Deseo. Key work: Donde Habite el Olvido
Vicente Aleixandre
Aleixandre focused on love and nature, portraying love as both destructive and life-giving. His work is known for its powerful metaphors and free verse. Key work: La Destrucción o el Amor
Federico García Lorca
Lorca is a central figure of the Generation of ’27, known for his literary work and cultural contributions. Tragic fate and unrealized potential are key themes. He published Canciones, Poema del Cante Jondo, and Suites simultaneously. Romancero Gitano explores tragic fate and blends cultured and popular traditions. His time in the U.S. inspired Poeta en Nueva York, which uses surrealism to critique social injustice. He also wrote Llanto por Ignacio Sánchez Mejías and Sonetos del Amor Oscuro.