Los Contemporáneos

Los Contemporáneos (English: "The Contemporaries") was a significant Mexican modernist group, active primarily in the late 1920s and early 1930s, known for their contributions to art and literature. This group, comprising influential writers and artists, emerged from the friendships and literary collaborations formed among students at Mexico City's National Preparatory School and later at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Their work was characterized by a blend of tradition and innovation, influenced by contemporary cultural universalism. They sought to participate in and contribute to the emergence of a universal culture of expression and innovation, a development brought about by advancing capitalism and technological progress.

The group's activities included writing for and starting their own literary journals, the first of which was México Moderno, running from 1920 to 1923. Their most enduring publication, the magazine Contemporáneos, operated from 1928 to 1931 and featured works by both Mexican and international authors, highlighting their openness to global cultural currents. This magazine was complemented by fine magazine paper and included photographs and illustrations, supported by government subventions.

Los Contemporáneos also produced a significant poetic anthology titled Antología de la poesía mexicana moderna, which was a subject of heated debates due to perceived editorial omissions. Their work often utilized extensive metaphors and complex imagery to express experimental disjointments in narrative time and space.

Furthermore, Los Contemporáneos played a crucial role in bringing international avant-garde ideas into Mexican culture. They promoted individual expression and stood apart from specific doctrines or styles. Members of the group, including notable figures such as Salvador Novo and Xavier Villaurrutia, were known for their cosmopolitanism and for challenging the nationalist agendas prevalent in Mexican art at the time. This stance made them targets of criticism from other Mexican artists, but today, their contributions are recognized as a vital alternative current in Mexican modernism.

In summary, Los Contemporáneos represents a pivotal chapter in the history of Mexican modern art, marked by their pursuit of cultural universalism, embrace of the avant-garde, and commitment to individual artistic expression. Their legacy is a testament to the rich and diverse tapestry of Mexican cultural history.

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