Spanish Literature: 1898 Generation to Avant-Garde
Representatives of the Generation of ’98
Miguel de Unamuno: In his first novel, Peace in War, he realistically portrays reality. However, in his subsequent writings, such as Nivola, he joins philosophy with literature and is concerned with Spain and the struggle between faith and reason. Among his highlights are Nivola, La Tía Tula, Abel Sánchez, Fog, and San Manuel Bueno, Martyr.
Pío Baroja: He starts from realism but introduces renovating elements. He participates in the action and introduces comments through dialogue and description to avoid the monotony of the narrative.
José Martínez Ruiz “Azorín”: His novels, which barely present an argument, are a portrayal of the Spanish land and its inhabitants. Some of them are The Will and The Confessions of a Young Philosopher.
Ramón María del Valle-Inclán: The first novels of this author, among which are the Sonatas, are part of Modernism. He evolves into the historical novel, typical in which he mixes real and fictional characters in works like the Carlist War trilogy. However, his most relevant contribution is the “esperpento”, which he introduced in the novel Tyrant Banderas.
Antonio Machado: He is primarily known for his poetic works, which evolve from the romantic intimacy of Soledades to the philosophical reflections of New Songs, passing through the modernism and objectivism of Campos de Castilla. In his work, he is concerned with the passage of time and a taste for the Castilian landscape.
Features of Novecentismo
- They show rationalism in the analysis of reality, expository clarity, and intellectual rigor. They analyze reality objectively and express it with clarity, using intellectual language.
- They contain sentimentality. They prefer to reject emotions and preach balanced and serene attitudes.
- They defend pure art, which must not have any intention other than private enjoyment or be self-serving to religious or political concerns or emotions. Their texts are directed to intellectual elites. Juan Ramón Jiménez called them “the vast minority.”
- They create well-done works with a careful and neat style.
- All of them expressed a profound vocation to train the minorities of the country (literacy).
Novecentismo and Avant-Garde
Novecentismo and Avant-Garde are two movements that take place in the interwar period (1918-1949). They are characterized by the reaction against modernist art and literature.
Novecentismo
It is a proper movement that arises in Spain around 1910 and whose authors embody the new intellectual concerns. It pursues pure art, whose sole purpose is aesthetic enjoyment.
Essay
The most cultivated genre. Among the authors, José Ortega y Gasset stands out, who, with a clear and careful style, addresses diverse topics such as culture, art, or everyday life in his writings (The Dehumanization of Art).
Novel
It moves away from the sentimental and realistic portrayal of reality. Among the relevant authors are Gabriel Miró (The Leper Bishop) and Ramón Pérez de Ayala (Tiger John).
Poetry
It seeks to move away from modernism. The most representative author is Juan Ramón Jiménez, whose work evolves from the intimacy present in Sad Arias to the naked poetry of Diary of a Newly Married Poet. This poem speaks of how his writing evolves over time.
Avant-Garde
After modernism, the term “avant-garde” appears.
Futurism
It advocates a complete break with the previous culture, extolling modernity, mechanics, and technique. It begins in Italy with Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (Manifesto).
Cubism
It demands the autonomy of the artwork. The writer wishes to grasp the simultaneity of reality. It includes the French calligrams of Guillaume Apollinaire.
Dadaism
It intends to demonstrate the absurdity of life. Its creator is the Romanian Tristan Tzara (The Approximate Man).
Surrealism
It defends a total revolution of the human being, through transforming imagination into poetry. It searches for a higher reality outside any aesthetic and moral reason. Its predecessor is the Frenchman André Breton (Surrealist Manifesto). In Spain, two proper movements are developed:
Creationism
The poet breaks with existing reality and creates a new reality that makes sense by itself. Among the followers of this movement, the Spanish authors Juan Larrea and Gerardo Diego, and the Chilean Vicente Huidobro (Poetic Art) are mentioned.
Ultraism
It gives major importance to the image and metaphor, removing the narrative. Pedro Garfias (The South Wing) and Guillermo de Torre (Propellers) stand out.