Arcadism was a literary style that emerged in Europe in the 18th century, during the rise of the Industrial Revolution and under the strong influence of the Enlightenment.
Also known as eighteenth century or neoclassicism, this vanguard sought to revive the aesthetic values of the classical period, valuing the desire for a harmonious and balanced life of man in nature.
To get to know this literary school better, check out some of its main features:
exaltation of nature
Arcadian authors despised the hectic lifestyle of cities. For them, people who lived in large urban centers behaved like "savages" and lost the essence of the "natural man" of the countryside.
That's why these artists they valued the simplicity and tranquility that emanated from nature, themes that were recurrent in his works.
However, it is observed that the exaltation of natural beauties and the simplicity of life in the countryside were totally opposed to the reality experienced at that time.
The industrial revolution begins to provoke a strong rural exodus, where people leave the countryside to work in cities, looking for better services and resources.
Bucolic and Pastoralism
Bucolism, that is, the description of scenes where the simple country man lives in harmony with nature, is one of the most important characteristics of Arcadianism.
Arcadians seek to express the idea of a peaceful, pleasant and natural life, where the chaos of cities is replaced by the bucolic scenery of the countryside.
Like bucolicism, pastoralism also refers to the simple, naive and tranquil way in which the character is presented. A constant association is made to the shepherds of sheep and the way they live, from the point of view of neoclassical authors.
Pastoralism is represented through the rational, simple and classical language of neoclassical poems, that is, without any kind of refining the vocabulary.
Valuing classical traditions
The art made during the classical period (Greece and Ancient Rome) served as an inspiration for Arcadian authors. In this way, the strong presence of Greco-Roman mythology in the Arcadian works is justified.
Another characteristic that refers to the classical period is the use of Latin words or expressions in texts, such as:
- locus amoenus ("warm place");
- flee city ("get out of town");
- carpe diem ("seize the day"), among others.
These quotations in Latin ended up representing the ideal vision of Arcadianism.
In addition, the Arcadians also used simple sonnets, similar to the style applied during Classicism.
Sonnet
From these cliffs did nature
The cradle I was born into: oh who cared.
That among such hard rocks was created
A tender soul, a breast without hardness.Love, that beats the Tigers, for company
It took me soon to surrender, he declares
Against my heart such rare war,
That was not enough for me.As much as I myself knew the damage
To which my tenderness gave occasion,
You can never escape the blind mistake:Ye who bear the harshest condition.
Fear, rocks, fear; what a tyrant love,
Where there is more resistance, more refines.Cláudio Manuel da Costa (Poetic Works)
See also what was the Classicism.
Opposite ideas to Baroque
The intended simplism of Arcadianism was totally opposed to the previous artistic style: the Baroque. This was based on excesses and exaggerations, whether in the plastic arts (very ornate works) or in literature (constant use of hyperbatics and hyperboles, for example).
While archadism had as reference the human being as the center of the world, based on ideas anthropocentric cultures disseminated by the Enlightenment, the baroque acted as a counter-reform tool to revive the Christian faith.
Read more about what the Baroque.
absence of subjectivity
Arcadian artists follow a "formula" to produce their poems, where there is the presence of a muse to be praised (respectful love), a pastoral pseudonym (character who lives in the countryside) and as a background a bucolic setting.
In this way, there is no space for the externalization of the author's feelings, but rather the representation of the ideal of simple and rural life that the Arcadians valued.
Use of pseudonyms
Arcadian authors adopted false names to sign their works. However, these pseudonyms must refer to names traditionally associated with rural men.
This pastoral pseudonym (or archadic name, as he was also known) had to be simple, as simplicity was one of the keywords for the Arcadians when imagining the essence of country life
Dirceu, for example, was the pseudonym of Tomás António Gonzaga, one of the main names in Brazilian arcadism/neoclassicism.
poetic pretense
Due to the fact that they are works made, for the most part, from pseudonyms, in archadian poetry, poetic pretense was also common.
In short, it consists of the expression of emotions that are not the poet's own, but rather simulations or imitations of feelings from the Renaissance classicism, and presented through his pseudonyms.
Lyrical or epic
Arcadian poems are classified into two genres: lyrical and epic.
You lyrical texts they contain the basic characteristics of this literary school, such as the exaltation of the countryside, the presence of an inspiring muse, harmony with nature, pastoralism, bucolicism, etc.
already the epic poems they differ by portraying historical facts, where the highlight is the heroic action of a certain character or nation, for example.
In Brazil, a third genre is still identified: satirical. This is represented by the work "Chilean Letters" by Tomás António Gonzaga, where he makes a series of criticisms of the Minas Gerais government at the time.
Caramuru: Epic Poem of the Discovery of Bahia
From one man in a thousand agitated cases,
That the beaches running from the West,
Discovered the famous Recôncavo
From the powerful brazilian capital:
From the Son of Thunder named,
That the taming breast knew the wild people;
The value will sing in adverse luck,
Because I only know heroes who are strong in them.Holy Splendor, that of the grain
-Father sisters
To the intact breast of a beautiful Virgin;
If from the flood of Sovereign lights
All dispensed by the Mother Maiden;
Breaking through the shadows of human illusions,
You of the grand case! pure light reveals
Make it begin in you, and end in you
This great Work, which at last was yours.Saint Rita Durão
Top artists
In Brazil, the main authors who fall under the epic arcadism are: Basil da Gama (1741-1795) and Friar Santa Rita Durão (1722-1784).
In lyrical arcadism, the best known representatives are: Cláudio Manuel da Costa (1729-1789) and Tomás António Gonzaga (1744-1810).
Continue reading more about Arcadianism.
