Spanish Romanticism: Art, Literature, and Social Impact
Spanish Romanticism: A Movement of Freedom and Passion
Romanticism, a significant social and artistic movement of the nineteenth century, championed the freedom of both the individual and the collective. In Spain, its development was delayed due to the political climate under Ferdinand VII’s absolutist rule. However, following his death in 1833, Romanticism flourished until the latter half of the century.
Rejecting classical constraints, Romanticism prioritized passion over reason, resulting in highly subjective artistic expressions. Romantic works often blended genres, combining verse and prose, and experimenting with diverse metrical structures. The expression of personal feelings and emotions became central, particularly in lyric poetry. Individualism was a key theme, often accompanied by social criticism and concern for others. Nature, reflecting various human moods, and an idealized medieval past, inspiring narrative and dramatic works, were also prominent themes, allowing for the recovery of historical identity.
Romanticism emphasized respect for the identities of all peoples, which in Spain was reflected in the use of Galician, Catalan, and Basque languages. The movement can be divided into two stages: the first, closely linked to political activism, saw poets challenging society with combative and bombastic expressions, while still adhering to traditional metric structures. José de Espronceda is a key figure of this period. The second stage, known as late Romanticism, shifted away from social consciousness, focusing on personal issues with a more intimate tone and freer use of metrics. Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro are representative of this period.
Narrative
The narrative aimed to incorporate elements of national identity, often evoking the past, particularly the 16th and 17th centuries. This resulted in historical novels, such as those by Enrique Gil y Carrasco, and legends, written in prose by G.A. Bécquer, and in verse by the Duke of Rivas and José Zorrilla. Observation of customs led to the development of the novel of manners (Cecilia Böhl Faber) and the rule of manners, represented by Ramón Mesonero Romanos. These works featured stories, descriptions of settings, and characters typical of Spain, considered a form of early realism. Mariano José de Larra added a critical perspective to this genre.
Theater
Romantic drama drew inspiration from 17th-century Spanish drama, adopting its themes and formal aspects. Key formal features of Baroque origin included the use of verse, the replacement of acts with days, and the rejection of the three unities of time, action, and space. There was a preference for medieval themes and those related to honor, often repeating the human archetypes found in the works of Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca. The heroes and heroines of romantic drama became symbols of freedom, challenging social norms and fighting for love. Their fates were often tragic. Examples include: The Conspiracy of Venice by Francisco Martínez de la Rosa, Don Álvaro, or the Force of Fate by the Duke of Rivas, and Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla.
Romantic drama often mixed tragedy and comedy, and the dynamic changes of scenery contributed to its dynamism. Its grandiose style, however, was sometimes considered unrealistic.