Guide to Modernismo: 9 Notable Modernismo Writers

Modernismo was a Latin American literary movement that took place during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Modernismo emphasized the perfection and beauty of language, culture, and poetry and was characterized by stylistic and rhythmic expression and strong patriotic rhetoric. Modernismo should not be confused with the Western [modernism movement](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/modernist-literature-guide) in literature, or with Catalan modernism, which was a similar [art nouveau](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/art-nouveau-explained) movement in Spain. Modernismo was one of the first uniquely Latin American literary movements that marked a major shift in style for Spanish language literature from the late 1880s until 1920. - __Beginnings__: Modernismo was a rejection of [naturalism](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/literary-movements-guide), a popular literary movement that took its inspiration from natural science and would later lead to [realism](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-literary-realism). The writers that would lead Modernismo were influenced by followers of the Parnassian school, who believed in art for art’s sake, and by French Symbolists, who sought to represent absolute truths through metaphor and symbolism. - __*Azul*__: The publication of Rubén Darío’s widely successful collection of poetry *Azul* (1888) is often seen as the true beginning of Modernismo. Darío was considered the lead figure of the movement, and he traveled to Spain and throughout Latin America to promote it. - __Periodicals__: The ideas of Modernismo were spread through periodicals such as *La Revista Azul* (1894–96) and *La Revista Moderna* (1898–1911), both published in Mexico. - __World War I__: The Modernismo movement began to wane in popularity around the start of World War I (1914–1918) when violence and a volatile political climate made the aesthetics of the movement seem trivial. Its influence, however, can be seen throughout the literature of the twentieth century. Modernismo was a major literary moment in Latin America, and the poetry and essays of the modernistas shared many common elements and beliefs. 1. __Cultural affinity__: Modernismo writings aimed to capture Latin American culture and express a cultural maturity and awareness of the present. Writers expressed pride in their cultural identity and specifically emphasized the superiority of spiritualism over Western materialism. 2. __Formal experimentation__: Modernismo was concerned with breaking free from formal traditions. Writers experimented with [meter](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-meter-learn-the-difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-meter-in-poetry-with-examples) and rhythm and played with language and [symbolism](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-symbolism-symbolism-definition-and-examples-in-literature). Many poems used the Alexandrine verse form of French poetry: a line with twelve syllables with stresses on the sixth and the last syllable, as well as a secondary accent on each half-line. 3. __Perfection and beauty__: Many writers, such as Rubén Darío, believed in the inherent beauty of poetry, and sought to perfect poetry with lyrical language and styles. This was often referred to as la voluntad de estilo, or the poet’s pure expression of style and identity. The writers of the Modernismo period came from all over Latin America and, because the movement emphasized individual self-expression, their styles remained distinct. 1. __Rubén Darío__: Considered the leader of Modernismo, Darío was a Nicaraguan poet whose collections *Azul* and *Prosas Profanas y Otros Poemas* introduced the lyrical vocabulary and heavy rhetoric of the style. 2. __José Martí__: Martí was a Cuban poet and revolutionary who became a leader in the early Modernismo period with his powerful speeches and essays, including “Nuestra America,” which was originally published in New York. He published very few books, and his works were instead dispersed across journals, newspapers, and in speeches, some of which are lost forever. 3. __Leopoldo Lugones__: Lugones was a writer from Argentina whose work came at the tail end of the Modernismo movement. His short stories represent some of the earliest science fiction and fantasy in Spanish literature. 4. __Juan Ramón Jiménez__: Spanish poet Jiménez advocated the idea of “pure poetry,” which promoted the lyricism and spirit of the Modernismo style. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature and is best known for his works *Poemas Mágicos y Dolientes* and *La soledad sonora*. 5. __Julio Herrera y Reissig__: Herrera y Reissig was a Uruguayan poet who began writing in the Romanticist style converting to Modernismo. He is best known for his poetry that innovated on both form and language and became a major influence on Spanish-American literature. 6. __José Asunción Silva__: Colombian poet Silva was an early founder of the Modernismo movement known for his experimentation with verse, rhyme, and meter. He is best remembered for his anthology *Gotas Amargas* and his poem *Nocturno*. 7. __José Enrique Rodó__: Rodó was a Uruguayan writer best known for his philosophies of self-reformation that helped unite Latin America. The strong patriotic and spiritual rhetoric in his essays influenced many of the ideas found in other Latin American Modernismo writings. 8. __Amado Nervo__: Mexican journalist and poet Nervo was known for his use of metaphors and mysticism in his writings, most of which dealt with themes of religion and love. His most popular work was his poetry collection *Místicas* and he helped found the <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-recognize-and-write-literary-journalism' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-recognize-and-write-literary-journalism","linkCopy":"literary journal","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>literary journal *La Revista Moderna*. 9. __Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera__: Nájera was a Mexican writer who traded Romanticism for Modernismo and helped many other Latin American writers establish themselves. He used many pseudonyms during his career, and most of his work was never collected. Become a better writer with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including N.K. Jemisin, Amy Tan, Neil Gaiman, Walter Mosley, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more. Beginning in the 1880s, Modernismo writers pioneered a new style of Latin American literature. They were a unique group of poets, journalists, and philosophers from different countries who celebrated experimentation, spirituality, and cultural pride.