Frederic Soler, Modernism, and the Rise of Catalan Noucentisme

Frederic Soler (Pitarra): Catalan Theater Recovery

Frederic Soler (1839–1895), known as Pitarra or Serafí Pitarra, was a writer from Barcelona who drew inspiration from artisan sources. He was instrumental in leading the recovery of Catalan theater during the 19th century, helping to consolidate the Renaixença (Catalan Renaissance).

He began his career in the theatrical tradition of comic sketches set in amusing environments. He also wrote pieces that feature a satirical attitude toward the patriotic enthusiasm caused by the African War, and parodies.

After achieving success with stage comedy and comic sketches, Soler aimed to consolidate a career as a renowned playwright, respected and followed by the bourgeoisie. He created theater influenced by Romanticism, premiering the drama of manners, Jewels of the Rosebush. He identified with the concept of "company theater," where the theatrical enterprise turns into a business. His primary merit lies in initiating the standardization of Catalan theater.

Key Theatrical Definitions

• Sainete: A short piece of comic character and caricature, featuring characters drawn from the everyday life of the intelligent artisans.
• Parody: A work that takes an existing piece, perverts it, and turns it into a comic work.

Modernism in Catalonia: Stages and Trends

Catalan Modernism developed through distinct stages, characterized by influential publications and shifting aesthetic trends:

1. Stage 1 (1892–1893): Marked by the influence of the magazine L'Avenç. Two main trends emerged:
   • The Decadent (characterized by exaggeration, symbolism, and aestheticism).
   • The Vitalist (stemming from an interpretation of Nietzsche's philosophy, advocating the exaltation of life as a supreme value).
2. Stage 2 (1894–1898): The triumph of Decadence.
3. Stage 3 (1898–1900): Marked by the influence of the journal Catalonia and an anti-decadent reaction.
4. Stage 4 (1900–1906): Dominated by the journals Joventut (Youth) and Poble Català (Catalan Village).

The Modernist Bohemia

The artist became a central figure in Modernism. Artists viewed themselves as superior beings, endowed with qualities that the general public could not understand. They considered themselves priests of art and lived a life away from the conventions of bourgeois society.

The lives of these artists are known as bohemia. Two main types are emphasized: the Pink Bohemia (Bohemia Rosa) and the Black Bohemia (Bohemia Negra).

Josep Carner and Noucentisme

Defining Noucentista Lyric Poetry

A fundamental concept for Josep Carner and Noucentisme was the creation of a noble, refined, and increasingly ironic language that sought precision and accuracy. This approach contrasted sharply with the vulgarism of Catalan spoken until then, and the forceful, picturesque expressions determined by the Modernist elite.

Carner’s poetic conception, exemplified by his work (described as a "tasty fruit"), had a great echo in literary, political, and cultural circles identified with the Noucentista project.

Following Modernism, which served as a period of aesthetic nourishment, Noucentisme was born in the 20th century with the desire to create an ideal based on principles such as:

• Classicism and Civility
• Mediterraneanism
• Order and Precision

These ideals were disseminated through the work of Eugeni d'Ors and followed by poets like Carner and Guerau de Liost.

The collection Doggerel and Fans is considered the richest and most diverse expression of Noucentista poetry. This work gives way to a different, reflective, and skeptical poet, where the clash between ideal and reality starts to become apparent.