Baroque Era: Splendor, Crisis, and Cultural Transformation

The Baroque was a profound cultural and artistic movement that developed during the 17th century. This period coincided with a significant era of economic, political, and social crisis, particularly in Spain.

Spain's 17th Century: Decline and Social Upheaval

At the start of the 17th century, the peninsular kingdoms adhering to the Habsburgs still controlled a vast extent of territory. However, a process of decomposition soon began. The primary causes of this decline included:

• Widespread misery and internal depopulation due to serious epidemics, continuous wars, and religious conflicts.
• The expulsion of the Moriscos, which resulted in a significant loss of capital and a skilled labor force.
• Kings increasingly left the government in the hands of validos (royal favorites), aristocrats who enjoyed the full confidence of the monarch. These validos often ruled through informal Juntas, marginalizing traditional councils. These Juntas were typically formed by their own adherents, which significantly increased corruption.
• An economic crisis triggered by state bankruptcy and a severe diminution in the arrival of precious metals from America. The economic policies implemented by the validos caused the devaluation of the currency, a decrease in silver production, and increased taxation.
• Profound social changes: the peasantry, which constituted the majority of the population, became impoverished. The middle classes weakened, and the number of marginalized groups increased, giving rise to archetypal figures that reflected the country's struggles.

Baroque Thought and Artistic Expression

The Baroque was a period marked by pessimism and desengaño (disillusionment). Humanist ideals were largely abandoned, and society became deeply religious. This worldview, often paradoxical and surprising, fostered a taste for the elaborate and the anomalous in art and thought.

The 17th-century individual often oscillated between resignation and rebellion against their circumstances. This gave rise to the disappointed vitalism that characterizes the Baroque individual. From this context emerged the contrasts, chiaroscuro, dynamism, and a taste for the elaborate, along with the twists of style and wit that characterized the art and literature of this period.

Literary and Artistic Masters of the Golden Age

Important authors and artists of the Spanish Baroque include:

• Diego Velázquez
• Jusepe de Ribera
• Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
• Luis de Góngora
• Francisco de Quevedo
• Lope de Vega
• Tirso de Molina
• Pedro Calderón de la Barca

Art and literature became an escape from reality, satisfying the public, and also served as a powerful means of propaganda, especially for the Counter-Reformation. Spanish literature at this time reached its peak, demonstrating amazing quality, richness, and originality. For instance, in the single decade from 1605 to 1615, towering figures like Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Luis de Góngora, Francisco de Quevedo, and Tirso de Molina were all actively producing their masterpieces.

17th-Century Lyric Poetry

The lyric poetry of the 17th century...