Spain's Transformation: Politics, Society, and Culture (1890-1932)
Political and Social Upheaval in Spain (1890-1932)
Rise of Labor Movements and Anarchism
Anarchist ideas were introduced in Spain, leading to the formation of major labor organizations:
- PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party)
- UGT (General Union of Workers)
- CNT (National Confederation of Labor)
- FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation)
Working-class discontent culminated in events like the Tragic Week (characterized by shooting at people from rooftops).
The Crisis of 1898 and the Generation of '98
The Treaty of Paris was signed, resulting in Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico achieving independence from Spain. The loss of the colonies produced an intellectual crisis of great impact on the writers of the Generation of '98.
Regional Nationalism and the Second Republic
The rise of regional nationalism included:
- Catalan Nationalism: Leading to the 1932 Statute of Catalonia.
- Basque Nationalism: Led by Sabino Arana.
- Galician Nationalism: Led by Manuel Murguía and Alfredo Brañas.
The Second Republic was proclaimed on April 14, 1931. Niceto Alcalá-Zamora was established as President, and Manuel Azaña as Prime Minister.
Social Context and Educational Reform
Socioeconomic Inequality and Development
Spain suffered from significant inequality, particularly the rural-urban divide, contrasting underdeveloped areas with industrial centers (where industrial workers were concentrated). Industrial development occurred primarily in the second half of the 19th century, contrasting with traditional livestock and agriculture sectors.
The Moyano Law and Educational Challenges
The Moyano Law of Public Instruction faced exceptions in regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country. This law favored schooling for the urban middle classes, and the Church regained influence in education.
Krausism and the ILE
To counter conservative education, the Institución Libre de Enseñanza (ILE) was created by Francisco Giner de los Ríos. Krausism in Spain represented a philosophical attitude aimed at reforming the country against stagnation and backwardness.
Fin de Siècle Artistic Movements
Starting around 1890, Europe reacted against the prevailing forms of Realism and Naturalism.
Parnassianism (France, 1830s)
Parnassianism surged in France in the 1830s, characterized by:
- Revolt against Romantic excesses, advocating Art for Art's Sake.
- Disinterestedness versus the privacy of the poet and the problems of society.
- Rejection of the relation between art and life.
- Belief that beauty is an essential and eternal value.
- A tendency to move away from reality and seek exotic subjects and settings.
- Recovery of mythology.
Decadence (Paris, 1880s)
Born in Paris in the 1880s, Decadence was a derivation of the Parnassian cult of beauty, featuring:
- Exaltation of the forbidden, the unhealthy, and the scandalous (sex, alcohol, drugs).
- Focus on marginalized and persecuted figures.
Impressionism (1874)
A pictorial movement that emerged in 1874, defined by:
- Aversion to academic art.
- Decomposition of shapes and colors, highlighting the landscape.
- Concern for visual sensation.
Key Artists: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Pissarro. In literature, Impressionism influenced writers such as Marcel Proust, Pío Baroja, and Azorín.
Modernism (1885-1915)
This literary movement was led by Rubén Darío (1885–1915 being its approximate duration). Modernism was not just a school but a time and an attitude towards life. Many modernists embraced elements from classical writers, Realists, Naturalists, Parnassians, and Symbolists.
Stages of Modernism
- Transition from Romanticism to Modernism (1882–1896)
- Rubén Darío or the Triumph of Modernism (1896–1905)
- Postmodernism (1905–1914)
- Ultraism (1914–1932)