Modernisme
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2008) |
Parc Güell, Barcelona |
---|
Modernisme (Catalan pronunciation:
Although Modernisme was part of a general trend that emerged in
Modernisme was active from roughly 1888 (the
Main concepts
Modernistes largely rejected bourgeois values, which they thought to be the opposite of art. Consequently, they adopted two stances: they either set themselves apart from society in a bohemian or culturalist attitude (Decadent and Parnassian poets, Symbolist playwrights, etc.) or they attempted to use art to change society (Modernista architects and designers, playwrights inspired by Henrik Ibsen, some of Maragall's poetry, etc.)
Architecture
The earliest example of Modernista architecture is the Castle of the Three Dragons designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in the Parc de la Ciutadella for the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition. It is a search for a particular style for Catalonia drawing on Medieval and Arab styles. Like the currents known in other countries as Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, Liberty style, Modern Style and Vienna Secession, Modernisme was closely related to the English Arts and Crafts movement and the Gothic Revival. As well as combining a rich variety of historically-derived elements, it is characterized by the predominance of the curve over the straight line, by rich decoration and detail, by the frequent use of vegetal and other organic motifs, the taste for asymmetry, a refined aestheticism and dynamic shapes.[2] While Barcelona was the centre of Modernista construction, the Catalan industrial bourgeoisie built industrial buildings and summer residences (cases d'estiueig) in many Catalan towns, notably Terrassa and Reus. The textile factory which is now home to the Catalan national technical museum mNACTEC is an outstanding example.
Antoni Gaudí is the best-known architect of this movement. Other influential architects were Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, and later Josep Maria Jujol, Rafael Guastavino and Enrique Nieto.[3]
Architects
There were more than 100 architects who made buildings of the Modernista style, three of whom are particularly well known for their outstanding buildings: Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
- hyperbolic paraboloid, the hyperboloid, the helicoid and the conoide.[4]
- Lluís Domènech i Montaner created a genuine alternative architecture. Along with Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas he worked towards a modern and international style. Domènech continued on from Viollet-le-Duc, his work characterized by a mix of constructive rationalism and ornaments inspired in the Hispano-Arab architecture as seen in the Palau de la Música Catalana, in the Hospital de Sant Pau or in the Institut Pere Mata of Reus.[5] His Hotel Internacional at Passeig de Colom in Barcelona (demolished after the 1888 World Fair) was an early example of industrial building techniques.
- Neo-Gothic is also apparent in his Codorniu Winery (Caves Codorniu, 1904). He built Casa Amatller and Casa Trinxet.
Other architects
- Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia, the great builder of buildings for the bourgeoisie to the l'Eixample.
- Josep Maria Jujol i Gibert, Gaudi's collaborator, creator of the fountain of the Plaça Espanya in Barcelona, and professor of the Escola Superior d'Arquitectura.
- wineries (The Cathedrals of the Wine), and agricultural buildings throughout southern and central Catalonia.
- Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, author of the Arc de Triomf of Barcelona (gate entrance to the Exposition of 1888) and the Casa Pia Batlló of the Rambla Catalunya, Gran Via.
- Parc Güell. He built the Casa Golferichs, the Casa Pomar and the building of the Escola Industrial.
- Salvador Valeri i Pupurull
- Josep Amargós i Samaranch
- Francesc Berenguer i Mestres
- Enrique Nieto
- Valencia to whom Asland Cement Factory in Castellar de n'Hugis attributed
- Domènec Boada i Piera
- Cristóbal Cascante i Colom
- Ferran Cels
- Eduard Ferrés i Puig
- Josep Font i Gumà
- Josep Graner i Prat
- Miquel Madorell i Rius
- Bernardí Martorell i Puig
- Rafael Masó i Valentí
- Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell
- Lluís Muncunill i Parellada, who was active in Terrassa: created Vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover textile factory, now hosting mNACTEC (National Museum of Science and Industry of Catalonia) and a "farmhouse"/small manor house called Masia Freixa,
- Camil Oliveras i Gensana
- Ignasi Oms i Ponsa
- Pere Caselles i Tarrats
- Josep Maria Pericas i Morros
- Josep Pujol i Brull
- Pere Ros i Tort
- Manuel Vega i March
- Salvador Vinyals[6]
UNESCO World Heritage
Some of the works of Catalan Modernism have been listed by
- By Antoni Gaudí:[7]
- Park Güell in Barcelona;
- Palau Güell in Barcelona;
- Sagrada Família in Barcelona;
- Casa Batlló in Barcelona;
- Casa Milá in Barcelona;
- Casa Vicens in Barcelona;
- Colònia Güell in Santa Coloma de Cervelló.
- By Lluís Domènech i Montaner:[8]
- By Antoni Gaudí:[7]
Literature
In literature, Modernisme stood out the most in narrative. The nouvelles and novels of decadent writers such as
In poetry, Modernisme closely follows Symbolist and Parnassian poetry, with poets frequently crossing the line between both tendencies or alternating between them. Another important strain of Modernista poetry is Joan Maragall's "Paraula viva" (Living word) school, which advocated Nietzschean vitalism and spontaneous and imperfect writing over cold and thought-over poetry. Although poetry was very popular with the Modernistes and there were many poets involved in the movement, Maragall is the only Modernista poet who is still widely read today.
Modernista theatre was also important, as it smashed the insubstantial regional plays that were popular in 19th-century Catalonia. There were two main schools of Modernista theatre: social theatre, which intended to change society and denounce injustice—the worker stories of Ignasi Iglésias, for example Els Vells ("The old ones"); the Ibsen-inspired works of Joan Puig i Ferreter, most notably Aigües Encantades ("Enchanted Waters"); Rusiñol's antimilitaristic play L'Hèroe—and symbolist theatre, which emphasised the distance between artists and the bourgeoisie—for example, Rusiñol's Cigales i Formigues ("Cicadas and Ants") or El Jardí Abandonat ("The Abandoned Garden").
Linguistics
Modernista ideas impelled L'Avenç collaborator Pompeu Fabra to devise a new orthography for Catalan. However, only with the later rise of Noucentisme did his projects come to fruition and end the orthographic chaos which reigned at the time.
Decline
By 1910, Modernisme had been accepted by the bourgeoisie and had pretty much turned into a fad. It was around this time that
Modernista architecture survived longer. The Spanish city of Melilla in Northern Africa experienced an economic boom at the turn of the 20th century, and its new bourgeoisie showed its riches by massively ordering Modernista buildings. The workshops established there by Catalan architect Enrique Nieto continued producing decorations in this style even when it was out of fashion in Barcelona, which results in Melilla having, oddly enough, the second-largest concentration of Modernista works after Barcelona.
See also
References
- ISBN 0-00-272167-8, p. 253.
- ISBN 84-252-1563-3.
- ^ Mackay, David, 'Modern architecture in Barcelona, 1854-1929', Barcelona, 1985. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://noticias.arq.com.mx/Detalles/9955.html. Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Arquitectura modernista". www.arteespana.com.
- ^ es:Salvador Vinyals
- ^ https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/320/multiple=1&unique_number=364 Official List of the UNESCO Site "Works of Antoni Gaudí" (1994, 2005)
- ^ https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/804/multiple=1&unique_number=950 Official List of the UNESCO site "Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona" (1997)
External links
- "Modernisms", at the MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), in English.
- Modernisme Route Barcelona, in English.
- Art Nouveau in Catalonia, in English.
- Arxiu de Patrimoni Arquitectònic de Catalunya (EPSEB-UPC)
- Museu del Modernisme Català / Museum of Modernism, museum in Barcelona dedicated to Modernisme (in English).