We explain what ultraism was, how it originated and what its objectives were. Also, its general characteristics and some examples.
What was Ultraism?
Ultraism was an avant-garde literary movementoriginated in Spain in 1918 as opposition to the traditional modernism that prevailed in Spanish letters since the end of the 19th century.
Although it incorporated some visual artists into its ranks, it was an eminently literary and poetic movement, highly influenced by Italian futurism and focused on valuing metaphor as the essence of literary writing.
Like many other avant-garde movements, He published several poetic magazines and grouped its members around the Café Colonial in Madrid, where a traveling gathering directed by the Sevillian writer Rafael Cansinos Assens operated.
The core of the movement It was made up of various local namesamong whom was the universal Argentine, Jorge Luis Borges, during his stay in Spain.
See also: Generation of ’27.
Name Ultraism
The prefix “ultra” of ultraism It comes from the same Greek word that translates “beyond.” and it is commonly used in the Spanish language, as in the case of ultramarine (“beyond the ocean”) or beyond the grave (“beyond the grave”).
He was chosen by the ultraists because they proposed, as stated in their manifesto, go beyond the prevailing noucentisme and renew literary structures with something new: “Our literature must be renewed; must achieve his ultra as our scientific and political thinking seeks to achieve today.”
Historical context of ultraism
Ultraism It emerged in Spain at the beginning of the 20th century obeying the need to overcome the modernism that had prevailed since 1880, characterized by an almost narcissistic and aristocratic refinement, a cosmopolitan imaginary and a certain desire to renew metrics.
That era He was a witness to the explosion of the so-called “first avant-garde movements”which consisted of innovative or disruptive positions in the artistic, literary, political and cultural fields.
They were great defenders of freedom of expression and artistic exploration, often overcoming the boundaries between expressive genres and drawing on new methods, imaginings and philosophies.
Main representatives of ultraism
Ultraism had a nucleus composed of Gerardo Diego, Pedro Garfias, Pedro Iglesias CaballeroThe author, Juan Larrea, Ernesto Lopez-Parra, Lucia Sanchez Saornil, Guillermo de Torre and Isaac del Vando-Villar, is a member of the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts.
Other members were Jacobo Sureda, who was not exclusively committed with this movement, and through him his friend Jorge Luis Borges, who formally joined in 1921 and spread it in Argentina.
ultraist magazines
Ultraism had several magazines as official dissemination bodies, which were Greece (Seville-Madrid, 1918-1920) and Vltra (Madrid, 1921-1922)However, other magazines such as Afar (Corunna), Reflector (Madrid), Ronsel (Vigo) and Horizon (Madrid) were related to the movement.
In its Argentine variant, ultraism published the magazines Prism (1921-1922) and Bow (1922-1923, first period).
Ultraist manifesto
The manifesto of ultraism titled “Ultra. “A manifesto of literary youth” It was first published in the magazine Cervantes in 1918, when the movement was created and then reproduced in the magazine Greece.
It was signed by Xavier Bóveda, Guillermo de Torre, Fernando Iglesias, Edgar Eduardo, Pedro Iglesias Caballero, Pedro Garfias, J. Rivas Panedas and J. de Aroca.
In this manifesto The guidelines pursued by ultraism are set out in a programmatic mannerdefined as the “will for a new art that replaces the latest literary evolution: Noucentisme.”
In addition ends with a harangue: “Young people, let us once and for all break free from our withdrawal and affirm our will to surpass our predecessors.”
Objectives of ultraism
Jorge Luis Borges himself, in a text published in Buenos Aires in 1921, summarizes the objectives of ultraism in:
- A use of metaphor as the very body of the poem.
- Deletion of dividing phrases, links and adjectives considered useless.
- Abolish the “ornamental works” that were identified with modernism.
- Shocking, groundbreaking poetic images that allude to technical and technological novelty.
- Use of mathematical symbols and other typographical breaks.
- Use of neologisms, technical words and esdrújula words.
- Elimination of rhyme and meter, and a tendency to avoid personal and sentimental motivations.
Related artistic movements
Ultraism He was greatly influenced by futurismwhose greatest exponent was the Italian Marinetti, especially in his fervor for the machine and technological advancement.
Also He came very close to the creationism of Vicente Huidobrowhose particular poetics entailed enormous artistic freedom in the creation of the poem.
Argentine Ultraism
When Borges returned to Argentinabrought ultraism with him and in Buenos Aires created groups and magazines formally attached to the movement.
However, The American variant incorporated other trends that made it different to the peninsular, such as creolism and the parody of local culture, concerns that would accompany Borges even after he abandoned the movement.
Ultraism in painting
Ultraism also had its variant in painting, influenced by futurism and cubism at the same time and Its epicenter was the city of Seville (and some from the American continent).
Just like its literary variant, pictorial ultraism opted for a break with nineteenth-century motifs and inspirations and opted for bold, inharmonious forms.
Examples of ultraism
Some examples of ultraist poetry:
- NOCTURNES – Juan Larrea
The night has opened its umbrella
It’s raining
The rain birds
they peck the wheat from the puddles
The trees sleep
on one paw
Flutters, flutters
Break down a car
its final clatter of hendecasyllable
A man crosses like a bad thought
Water mosquitoes
the lights flicker
Wing Fires
flutters
It’s raining - TOMORROW – Jorge Luis Borges
The flags sang their colors
and the wind is a bamboo stick in the hands
The world grows like a clear tree
Drunk as a propeller
the sun hits the target on the rooftops
The sun with its spurs tears the mirrors
Like a playing card my shadow
has fallen face down on the road
Up the sky flies
and birds fly through it like wandering nights
The morning comes to rest fresh on my back.