Modernism+in+Barcelona

Modernism in Barcelona.


 The society in Barcelona wanted to leave a mark in history in every field, and they’ve done it particularly in architecture. The great Catalan international exhibitions, like the industrial exhibition of 1888 in Barcelona, demonstrated the Spanish pride.  There are three buildings that clearly mark the beginning of Modernism, all of them from 1880 decade : The publishing house of Montaner i Simon(1880), Josep Vilaseca's factory for F. Vidal (1884) and Gaudi's Casa Vicens (1883- 5). Theses buildings come from a revival of a very specific Spanish style: the neo-Mudejar, with the use of Moorish decorative forms and techniques as characteristics. Modernism seems to have begun earlier and ended later than in most countries in Europe.

 The Modernist architects expressed themselves in different ways, some wanted to revive Romanesque architecture, others imported the French neo-Gothicism of Violet le Duc, others still searching for a modern style in Germany, Austria or France. What seems to be characteristic is the use of nature-forms: flowers, plants and animals, decorative forms in ironwork, ceramics and stained glass. The aim was to create a modern art based on Catalan traditions, mixed with the use of new materials, like cast and wrought iron.