Krausism and the Spanish Avant-garde: The Impact of Philosophy on National Culture by Christian Rubio (review)

The nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth was a time of socio-political upheaval in Spain. The Iberian nation endured fundamental changes in its political landscape. The progressive loss of its empire, together with the internal political problems between liberal and conservative parties, shook Spanish national identity. Intellectuals and pundits acknowledged the ideological stagnation of society and were eager to find an ideological solution that would heal this wound: this solution was Krausism.

Karl Christian Krause is a German philosopher born in Eisenberg in 1781. Krausism “carried great significance” in Europe and Spain in the nineteenth century (xvii). During this time, Europeanization was emerging and Spain was not willing to be left behind. However, the influence of both ideologies—Krausism and Europeanization—on Spain has been object of debate among scholars. They disagree on the quality and the degree of that influence. While some scholars consider that Krausism played a pivotal role in shaping Spanish culture, others believe it faded away as fast as it appeared. Moreover, the concept of Europeanization in Spain has always been understood as the example that breaks the rule. It has been accepted that “the Iberian nation was an entity separate from Europe” (xix). This notion also led scholars to treat and analyze Spanish cultural production differently.

In his new book, Christian Rubio calls for a “realignment of the literature and arts from Spain” (xxi). Krausim and the Spanish Avant-garde is a comprehensive study that aims to illustrate the long-lasting effect that this German philosophy had on Spanish society by revisiting two key factors: educational reforms and aesthetical analysis. Rubio’s work underpins a groundbreaking understanding of the artistic and social movements of this era. Rather than separate them in different generations, Rubio entwines them together with the same guiding thread: Krausism.

Why did Krausism fit so well within the nation’s context? Spanish intellectuals sought an ideology that promoted individual and personal development without rejecting the deeply rooted Catholic mindset of the Spanish population. The Krausist’s paradigm could be adapted to those expectations because it claimed that humankind would reach its peak through a rational process in which individuals would discover “God and His manifestation in this world” (10). Although the means and tenets of Krausism remain fuzzily presented in Rubio’s text, the philosophy was a perfect match for Spanish needs and, within this spirit of improvement, intellectuals turned toward education to achieve their goals.

In 1876, Francisco Giner de los Ríos, a convinced and committed Krausist, became the leader of the Spanish educational revolution by founding “La Institución Libre de Enseñanza” (Free Institute of Education) (ILE). His aim was to “change the mindset of people . . . foster[ing] an environment in which a secular education would be imparted . . . promot[ing] the same harmony of humanity Krause had advocated” (29). Giner and his followers developed an innovative curriculum that included for the first time physical education and health, field trips, and aesthetics. They were also fierce defenders of intuitive education, rather than mere instruction, and launched projects that would create a fruitful cultural environment, such as “La Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios” (the Council for the Extension of Studies) (JAE) and “la Residencia de Estudiantes” (the Students’ Residence).

Among this affluence of new ideas, two opposing stances appeared: the traditionalists and the trailblazers. Their presentation in the text is somewhat unbalanced and digressive; however, the indispensable concepts remain discernible. The traditionalist view, exemplified by Miguel de Unamuno and Ángel Ganivet, was hesitant about breaking with old traditions and opening the nation’s borders to new ideas. In contrast, the trailblazers appealed for breaking from old traditions and restructuring Spanish society, mirroring other European countries. Ramiro de Maetzu and Joaquin Costa strove for improving the Spanish legal system, and figures such as Ortega y Gasset and Ramón Gómez de la Serna did the same through their philosophical and...