Modern Avant-Garde Movements: Art, Literature, and Cultural Impact

The Avant-Garde: A Revolution in Art and Culture

The avant-garde is a heterogeneous movement that emerged in the late 19th century, seeking to break with established social and cultural heritage. Its characteristic movements, particularly in the second half of the avant-garde period, are often referred to as '-isms'.

Key Avant-Garde Movements

• Cubism

  An artistic movement developed between 1907 and 1914, influenced by Cézanne and African and Polynesian art. It evolved through three main periods:

  1. Cézannian Period (1907-1909): Characterized by a tendency towards geometricized construction and reconstruction of reality, or a simplified approach.
  2. Analytical Period (1910-1912): Objects underwent a process of decomposition to establish dynamic rhythms.
  3. Synthetic Period: Emphasized the intellectual ordering of artworks.

  Notable painters include Braque and Picasso, with Apollinaire also a key figure.

• Futurism in Literature

  A literary and artistic movement that emerged with the publication of the 'Futurist Manifesto' in Le Figaro in 1909. It exalted innovation and rejected tradition. By the end of the 1920s, Futurism lost its influence due to its pro-fascist leanings.

• Dadaism

  An artistic and literary movement active in New York (1915-1923) and Zurich (1915-1919). It is characterized by a general revolt against culture and the prevailing social situation during World War I.

• Surrealism

  An aesthetic and literary movement that appeared in France in 1924. Key figures included André Breton, Louis Aragon, and Paul Éluard. They proposed psychic automatism, believing the world is based on the subconscious. Artists like Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí joined this movement.

Avant-Garde Literature in Buenos Aires

The introduction of avant-garde literature to Buenos Aires faced several contradictions:

1. When it was introduced, a dominant Noucentista aesthetic hindered the implementation of new literary models.
2. It was not a real alternative to the dominant culture.
3. It evolved into literature, with many traditional writers and others who were merely passing through adopting its styles.

Catalan Avant-Gardism: Three Stages

Catalan avant-gardism, characterized by a strong unity among its intellectuals, can be divided into three distinct stages:

• Stage 1: 1916-1924 - Early Explorations

  During this period, the complete works of J.S. Papasseit were published, and the first publications of J.V. Foix appeared. This literature was framed within Futurism and also included Ultraism, notably with Gabriel Alomar. In 1923, the Sabadell group rose to cultural prominence, advocating for culturalist positions.

• Stage 2: 1926-1930 - Surrealist Influence

  This stage is characterized by the reception of Surrealism, primarily through the magazine L'AMIC de les Arts, which featured collaborators like Dalí and Miró. In 1928, the influential 'Yellow Manifesto' was published, further solidifying the movement's direction.

• Stage 3: 1948-1954 - Post-War Resurgence

  This post-war stage was led by the 'Dau al Set' group, which published a magazine of the same name, marking a significant resumption of avant-garde activity and intellectual discourse.

John Salvat Papasseit

John Salvat Papasseit was a prominent figure in Catalan avant-gardism, whose early publications marked the beginning of the first stage of the movement.