In the history of Western culture, the baroque was a period originated by a new way of conceiving art and that, starting from the historical and cultural context, produced works in many artistic fields such as literature, architecture, sculpture, painting, music, opera, dance, theater, among others. This was carried out in the colonies of the European powers, mainly in Latin America, progressively covering many countries in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with greater or lesser prolongation in time.
What is baroque
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Baroque is called that part of the cultural history of the West, characterized by the way of conceiving art in all its expressions, which was influenced in the same way by the historical and cultural context of the time. The artistic areas where there was an impact of this style, range from music to architecture.
It is said that the term comes from the Portuguese barrôco, which means "irregular pearl"; although it is also said to be derived from the French baroque, which means "extravagant." In principle, the term was used in a pejorative way, as it was an extravagant and ornate art, with whimsical characteristics and disproportionate dimensions: it was synonymous with grotesque, ridiculous or absurd.
However, experts in the arts claimed the term, giving it a more objective analysis of the characteristic features of the current, recognizing its unique and differentiated style, taking the historical context of the baroque without making value judgments on its manifestations.
Baroque characteristics
This cultural phenomenon presents aspects that stand out from other periods. Here are some of them:
Baroque art features:
- It is an art of an extravagant type, with a great ornamental load.
- The spiritual is sought and the externalization of internal passions.
- Well demarcated contrast between shadows and lights, attention to detail and sense of movement.
- Different ideas found: dualism and contradiction.
- In literature, the type of narrative is extravagant and far-fetched. Go to the word game and use elements such as hyperbole, paradox, antithesis and metaphor.
- In the used language of this phenomenon, medieval dyes were unified with those of the Latin and Greek cultures.
- Complexity, darkness and sensualism are evident.
- Complication of forms, in addition to the preponderance of art over the harmony of nature.
Baroque history
This movement originated in the seventeenth century as a phenomenon that spanned the cultural, political, economic, social, philosophical, and even scientific and technological fields. It had its beginnings in Italy at the end of the 16th century, spreading to the rest of Europe (mainly France, Spain and Austria) in the full Baroque period and, thanks to the colonizations, to America.
The period unfolded in a political context full of corruption, lack of concern for their monarchs, and inefficiency to govern, with collective feelings of pessimism due to migration, hunger and wars.
The contrast between social classes increased and the aristocracy used the baroque in architecture as an exercise of power. There was also a shortage of labor and an increase in begging. Given this, it was sought to generate the opposite effect: enjoyment, exaggeration and perfection.
This period lasted from about 1600 to 1750 (early 1580-1630; middle 1630-1680; late 1680-1750). It was in the different artistic expressions where the baroque influence was best evidenced, opposing classicism, being more irrational, passionate, theatrical, dynamic and effective, intensifying realism and enhancing contrasts and imbalance.
The Catholic Church of baroque Europe had to face revolutionary movements that resulted in a religion other than Catholicism (Protestant Reformation). The Catholic Church used the movement against the Reformation (Counter-Reformation).
The end of this current came due to the disappearance of its exponents, and the death of the musician Johann Sebastian Bach, on July 28, 1750, was the symbolic culmination of it. The rest of the arts were replaced by neoclassicism.
Spanish-American Baroque
The Spanish-American baroque was especially present in architecture and this is evidenced in religious constructions, both large cathedrals and small parishes. In all cases we speak of buildings very similar to the Spanish ones, with surfaces full of curves and counter-curves and with interiors decorated with an abundance of details. It originated in Spain in the 16th century, later moving to the American continent during the colonizations and its characteristics are very similar to those of the Spanish Baroque.
The baroque reaches the colonized countries due to the Europeans who brought part of their culture to these regions, although characteristics of each locality are being coined. Of the characteristics of the European baroque it preserves the decorative element and its originality.
Mexico was one of the greatest exponents of the Baroque. Pre-Hispanic indigenous styles began to be mixed with the Spanish baroque; Although local crafts were cut off when precious elements such as gold and silver were removed from them, to be melted and integrated into the altars of Catholic churches. At the same time, its Eurocentric elements are united with native traditions, for example in the presence of black or aboriginal virgins.
The baroque in the arts
Baroque literature
This is characterized by containing a virtuous and refined language, elaborate syntax and puns. The texts were full of contradictions and paradoxes, sentiments exaggerated, generally negative, giving them a pessimistic and dark touch.
In the same way, the historical context full of wars, misery, corruption and death; it had a direct influence on the characteristics of the literary baroque, giving an idea of something ephemeral and fleeting. Suffering was conceived as a consequence of some sin committed.
Two styles were defined: cultism and conceptism. Cultism used the pun on attention to detail; and the conceptism was handled by initial ideas, rhetoric and rationalism.
Baroque architecture
The Baroque movement made more curved figures on columns, moldings, the use of gold color in buildings and repeated forms adapt to architectural forms. The architecture of the Baroque movement was primarily colossal in nature, with the dome taking center stage in cathedrals and other buildings. Although the details were ostentatious, they lacked quality, but they denoted magnificence and sumptuousness.
There was both architecture with a religious theme and that which did not. The planning and civil architecture also had Baroque influence. One of its main icons were the great palaces built in Europe under the aesthetic guidelines of the Baroque, which gave them magnificence.
Baroque music
This is the musical style of Europe belonging to the period under study, which goes from the origin of opera music, until the death of the composer Bach in 1750, this style being one of the exponents of classical music.
Its function was to make propaganda to the churches of the Lutheran Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation that were in dispute. The baroque, characterized by its ostentation and pomposity, influenced this type of music, giving it a theatrical character, with its great sonic contrasts and giving magnificence to public presentations. The recitative style is developed in singing, which is the inflexion of dialogue.
The contrast of high and low voices was a main characteristic of this style, which brought with it new musical forms, such as the sonata, orchestra, opera, cantata, among others.
Baroque painting
In this period, the painting was characterized by its lighting effects showing great contrasts. In these plays of light and shadow, the chiaroscuro technique stood out, which was carried to both ends, calling this style tenebrism.
The captured images were characterized by their realism (even ugly). The emotions on the faces were reflected with greater expressiveness and ornamental elements were added. The use of lights, which define the environment and silhouettes, as well as the predominance of color over lines and perspectives, gave movement to the painting.
Baroque poems
In the baroque lyric elements added by the baroque are added. Among them we can highlight, once again, the contrast, the excesses and the extravagances typical of the current. This type of poetry from the Baroque period leaves behind the balance and judgment that characterized Renaissance poetry, managing to destabilize the feelings in the readers.
His writing style in the language used was ornate and exaggerated, with messages that were not easy to digest with the naked eye, loaded with rhetorical figures and ingenuity in his rhymes. While in the Renaissance a difference is established between popular and cultured poetry, in the Baroque the union of both aspects is sought.
The humorous poetry arises, succeeding due to the movement's own exaggeration, and satire develops. However, serious issues are approached with the martiality they deserve.
Baroque theater
In the baroque theater topics of honor were handled; of religion, since theological themes whose concepts were personalized were exposed (sin, for example, was represented by an actor); the traditions of a region; the tragic comedy or tragicomedy; among others; which were presented in neighborhood courtyards called corrals.
The types of characters that were most distinguished in a Baroque play were the lady, the gallant, and the gallant's funny adviser friend. Each one with specific and well-marked characteristics.
For the staging, particular elements were added in the scenography, such as the inclusion of artistic works that will help reinforce the recreated scene. They originated:
- The entremeses (one-act plays).
- Zarzuelas (Spanish genre that mixes singing, dancing and acting).
- Loas (presentation or introduction).
- Dances, mojigangas (ridiculous dances in animal costumes).
- The autos sacramentales (which had religious themes), among others.
Main Baroque authors
Among the top exhibitors of the Baroque period, we can mention:
- Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), who through his novels captured the elements of the period. He was the author of the famous novel El ingenioso Hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha.
- Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648-1695), Mexican philosopher and novelist, was one of the greatest representatives in America of baroque literature, known as "The Seventh Muse" and author of The Dream, an extensive philosophical poem.
- Charles Perrault (1628-1703), a French writer who defined fairy tales as a genre and was the author of baroque works that are famous to this day, such as Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella.
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English poet, playwright and actor who brought to the world about 38 plays, two long poems, and 54 sonnets.
- Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), German musician who was the most important of one of the most outstanding families of musicians in the world.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), Italian sculptor and architect, considered the creator of the Baroque style in sculpture.
International Baroque Museum
This is a museum that exhibits the different manifestations of the baroque period located in Puebla de Zaragoza, Puebla, Mexico, which became operational since 2016. In it, representative works of the movement are preserved in the fields of sculpture, literature, architecture, among others.
Its structure, designed by the Japanese architect Toyo Ito, takes into account three fundamental elements of Baroque art, such as movement, chiaroscuro and the relationship between man and nature. It has permanent exhibitions in its rooms, some adding technological elements for interaction with the visitor.
Images of the baroque movement
Here are some images about the most outstanding expressions of the Baroque in its different manifestations:
