NEOCLASSICISM IN COLOMBIA: CHARACTERISTICS, AUTHORS - HISTORY - 2025

The neoclassicism in Colombia was a literary, artistic and cultural movement that had a presence at the end of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century. This movement was born in France as a reaction to the excesses of the Baroque. Neoclassicism was greatly influenced by rationalism and the Enlightenment.

In Colombia, and in general throughout Latin America, Neoclassicism was very marked by the historical context. In this way, in addition to the general characteristics of Neoclassicism, the struggle for independence became one of the most used themes. In what was then New Granada, much of it had a nationalist theme.

Bogotá Cathedral - Source: Lizeth.riano, via Wikimedia Commons

The arrival, therefore, of Neoclassicism in Latin America was delayed compared to what had happened in Europe, due to Spanish domination. Later, some experts include among the neoclassical authors heroes of independence such as Antonio Nariño or Simón Bolívar.

Neoclassicism had an impact, especially, in Colombian literature. In both poetry and theater, there were quite a few authors framed in this current. However, critics say that its influence was less than in other countries in the Latin American environment.

Historic context

Worldwide, the origin of Neoclassicism took place in France in the middle of the 18th century and lasted until the first decades of the next century. Its appearance was a response to the excesses of the Baroque, especially during its last stage: the Rococo.

In Latin America, the arrival of this artistic and cultural trend was later. Due to Spanish domination, it was not until the end of the 18th century when its first exponents appeared.

For this reason, it was developed in a context of struggle for the independence of the territories in the hands of the Spanish crown.

Independence processes

The second half of the 18th century marked the beginning of the decline of the colonial organization in Latin America. From that moment until 1825, most of the countries in the region achieved their independence.

These emancipation processes shared some of the influences of the neoclassical movement such as the emergence of Enlightenment thought and the outbreak of the French Revolution. The latter's slogans, asking for equality and freedom, were very present in both the independence movements and Neoclassicism.

Those ideas reached Latin America at the hands of its most cultured elements, such as Antonio Nariño. Many of them later participated in neoclassical literary creations.

Most of the cultural life in Latin America at the end of the 18th century was dedicated to the promotion of enlightened ideas. From literature to science, all areas of knowledge promoted the idea of ​​political and intellectual independence.

Colombia

The years after 1810, with constant clashes with the Spanish, left Colombia mired in poverty. For this reason, it was impossible to consolidate the Republic or recover the cultural life to which José Celestino Mutis had collaborated.

The Botanical Expedition was one of the important milestones for New Granada. For the first time, they tried to combine science with art. With the end of this project, during the first years of Independence, the artists had to accept commissions again to make portraits of wealthy families or paintings based on religious traditions.

These themes were very far from Neoclassicism and did not reflect the process of struggle for its independence that the country was experiencing.

Finally, between 1826 and 1850, there was a change in Colombian art. The situation allowed the influence of European Neoclassicism to arrive thanks to the trips that some artists made to the Old Continent.

characteristics

Neoclassicism, as its name indicates, vindicated classical European culture, specifically Roman and Greek art. According to experts, stylistically it was quite cold, with a great presence of satire in literature.

Reason became the reference concept for neoclassicals, replacing religion and feelings. There was a rejection of the fantastic, since writing comes to be understood as a way to educate and not to entertain.

In Latin America, this trend had a differentiating characteristic with respect to what was happening in Europe. Due to the historical context, the theme was permeated by the struggle for independence. Criticism against the Spanish and praise for the revolutionary heroes of the region were frequent.

High ideological content

In Europe, Neoclassicism was strongly influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. In Colombia, on the other hand, the political content was marked by the struggle for independence.

In this way, in Colombian neoclassical literature, issues such as denunciations of social injustices, praise for national heroes and the wars against the Spanish, and the attempt to create a consciousness of the identity of the new nation stood out.

New genres in prose

Within the neoclassical prose developed in Colombia, new genres were developed, most of them focused on social and national themes. One of the most important was political, social and economic journalism, which was imposed as a method to spread revolutionary and enlightened ideas.

Architecture

Although Colombia has been called by some experts "land of literati", Neoclassicism also had a notable influence on its architecture. Thus, a current appeared that drank directly from European models, especially from Spain and Italy.

Neoclassical buildings used to be very sober, since it was a reaction against the Baroque and its excess of decoration.

In Colombia, in addition, a style of its own developed from that Neoclassicism, the so-called classic Colombian tradition.

Authors and representative works

At the end of the 18th century there were some important poetic groups in Colombia, such as the Tertulia Eutropelica or the Academia del Buen Gusto.

However, the one that the experts stand out the most is the group of poets from Popayán, made up of authors such as José María Valdés, Francisco Antonio Rodríguez and José María Gruesso. His writings show some influence of romanticism that will replace Neoclassicism, but the language still clearly responded to the characteristics of this last current.

Jose Fernandez Madrid

José Fernández Madrid was born in 1789 and is considered one of the pioneers of Colombian theater. His most outstanding works, published during the wars of independence, were Atala and Guatimoc.

Camilo Torres Tenorio

Like so many other neoclassical authors, Torres Tenorio was part of the movement of the first independence of New Granada. He was very famous for his great ability to speak, which earned him the nickname of El Verbo de la Revolución.

His most important work was Memorial de Agravios, in which he developed a fierce criticism of the Spanish government and the laws that prevented Creoles from occupying important positions in New Granada.

Antonio nariño

Antonio Nariño was one of the heroes of the independence of New Granada. As a military man, he was present from the beginning of the war and, as a politician, he collaborated with Bolívar in the formation of the new country.

Apart from his political side, Nariño was one of those responsible for bringing the Declaration of the Rights of Man to Colombia. His translation of it and the disclosure paid for by himself cost him time in jail.

Nariño also brought together a circle of enlightened and liberal intellectuals around his figure.

Bogota Cathedral

Within neoclassical architecture, the Cathedral of Bogotá is possibly the most emblematic building among those erected in Colombia.

The Cathedral was designed and built between 1806 and 1811 by Domingo Petrés, a Spanish religious and architect.

References

1. National Radio of Colombia. Art and Independence. Obtained from radionacional.co
2. González Aranda, Beatriz. 19th century art manual in Colombia. Recovered from books.google.es
3. Scott, John F. Latin American art. Retrieved from britannica.com
4. The Columbia University Press. Spanish Colonial Art And Architecture. Retrieved from encyclopedia.com
5. Roberto González Echevarría and Ruth Hill. Latin American literature. Retrieved from britannica.com
6. Seiferle, Rebecca. Neoclassicism. Retrieved from theartstory.org