JOSÉ JOAQUÍN ORTIZ: BIOGRAPHY, STYLE, WORKS - BIOGRAPHIES - 2025

José Joaquín Ortiz (1814-1892) was a Colombian writer, journalist, poet, and educator. He stood out for being one of the maximum representatives of the romanticism of the old New Granada in the 19th century. His literary work was closely linked with love and respect for the homeland behind post-revolutionary national sentiment.

Ortiz's writings were characterized by the use of a cultured and expressive language, loaded with feelings and emotions. With his works he sought to highlight the identity and values ​​of the country. This Colombian intellectual went down in history as "The singer of the national glories", due to the content and beauty of his verses.

José Joaquín Ortiz. Source: ecured.cu.

Some of the most important titles of the writer were: My hours of rest, Orphans of mother and Poetry. Regarding his journalistic work, Ortiz participated in the creation of several newspapers, including La Caridad. As a teacher, she wrote didactic and easily understood texts for the training of primary and secondary students.

Biography

Birth and family

José Joaquín Ortiz Rojas was born on July 10, 1814 in the city of Tunja in Boyacá, where he came from a cultured and traditional family. His parents were José Joaquín Ortiz Nagle and Isabel Rojas. His childhood was marked by the persecution of patriots, including his father (hero of independence), who was imprisoned by the royalist army.

Studies

The first years of Ortiz's education were spent in his hometown and from an early age he manifested his talent for literature, especially poetry. He grew up listening to and reading about the exploits of Simón Bolívar, for whom he felt admiration and respect.

After the independence war, José Joaquín went to Bogotá to study at the Colegio del Rosario (later the Universidad del Rosario). There he learned about politics, humanities and law. Around that time the writer read Virgilio and European poets like Tasso and Manuel Quintana, and made the decision to dedicate himself to journalism.

First journalistic work

José Joaquín Ortiz began working in journalism when he was only twenty years old. At that time he participated in the creation of important newspapers, including El Porvenir, El Conservador, El Correo de los Andes and El Catolicismo. At the same time he published his first poetic work My hours of rest (1834).

Professional growth

Ortiz's performance as a journalist and his talent for poetry gave him a quick consolidation within the literary and cultural sphere of his country. This is how in 1835 he created the printed medium La Estrella Nacional, which became the first Colombian newspaper dedicated to the exhibition of texts about the homeland and its idiosyncrasies.

Along with his work as a journalist, he developed his career as a writer and poet. In 1848 he released the work Orphans of a mother and that same year he participated in the founding of the newspaper El Porvenir.

Universidad del Rosario, Ortiz's place of study. Source: AndresJaramillo1992, via Wikimedia Commons

Soon after, he created La Caridad, a printed medium that had been in circulation for more than two decades and was later known as Correo de las Aldeas.

Ortiz and education

Just as Ortiz was concerned about leaving a poetic and journalistic legacy in favor of the country, he also showed a broad interest in education. In the mid-nineteenth century he directed the Colegio de Boyacá in the city of Tunja and in 1852 established the Institute of Christ, focused on teaching Christian and human values ​​for a better life.

His work in educational matters extended to the production of pedagogical and learning books to facilitate the training processes in schools, and he stood out among them as The Colombian Reader.

The writer encouraged the development of a teaching based on patriotic and Christian values, also advocated the preservation of the traditional.

Last years and death

The intellectual spent his last years of life focused on journalism, writing and politics. During his time in the National Congress he expressed his support in favor of the church and education. His political disagreements were exposed in newspapers such as El Conservador and La Caridad.

Among his latest publications are María Dolores and Poesías. He lived accompanied by his wife Juliana Malo y Ortega, with whom he married in 1941. José Joaquín Ortiz died on February 14, 1892 in Bogotá at the age of seventy-seven.

Style

The literary style of José Joaquín Ortiz was framed within the current of romanticism, which meant that it separated from the usual lyrical and classical norms. His work was characterized by the use of a simple and expressive language, emotional and full of feelings. His themes were the homeland and the defense of its values.

Plays

- "The Colombian flag". Poetry.

- "The colonists." Poetry.

- "Al Tequendama". Poetry.

- “To Tunja”. Poetry.

- "Boyacá". Poetry.

- "Supreme night". Poetry.

- "Colón and Bolívar". Poetry.

Fragment of some of his poems

"The Colombian flag"

“… Don't you hear any closer already? Joins the echoes

the noise of warrior music

that, on the wings of the unleashed winds, it fills the immense scope of the sphere.

But see further how it progresses

among a forest of glistening steels, that reverberates from the sun to the rays.

Of the town between the wave, to the blue sky upright and alone.

The immortal flag of our country.

And go up to the Capitol, and the bugles

they let go of their high voice; thunder rumbles

of the canyon in the last reaches.

Oh! Hail to you, magnificent and sublime!

Anointed with the blood of the brave

killed in the fight.

Oh! Hail you! burned by fire

of the opposing hosts;

you, power, glory and the ideal homeland… ”.

"Al Tequendama"

"Hear I long for your majestic thunder, Tremendous Tequendama! I longed to sit

on the shores of your dreadful abyss,

having a brown cloud canopy

the plume that rises from your forehead

that, like the dust of the burning lid, in confused whirlwinds it rises…

Here I am contemplating you longingly

suspense of your abyss;

my soul stunned, absorbed, confused,

with such a great impression you are still anxious…

The man in you, capable more feels:

to leave his memory to the centuries, to be a hero, a saint or a poet, and draw from his lyre

a are so harmonious and so sublime

like the iris that shines on your forehead

like the echo of triumph that groans in you ”.

References

1. José Joaquín Ortiz. (2017). Colombia: Banrepcultural. Recovered from: encyclopedia.banrepcultural.org.
2. Tamaro, E. (2019). José Joaquín Ortiz. (N / a): Biographies and Lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
3. José Joaquín Ortiz. (2017). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
4. Ávila, F. (2016). Poems by José Joaquín Ortiz. (N / a): Fausto Marcelo. Recovered from: faustomarcelo.blogspot.com.
5. José Joaquín Ortiz. (2010). (N / a): Spring Canticle. Recovered from: canticoprimaveral.blogspot.com.