Luis Cardoza y Aragón
Encyclopedia
Luis Cardoza y Aragón was a Guatemala
n writer, essayist, poet, art critic
, and diplomat
born in Antigua Guatemala
but who spent a good part of his life living in exile
in Mexico
.
Cardoza attended primary school in Antigua Guatemala and at the Colegio Centroamericano in Guatemala City
. His received a secondary education in the city's Instituto Nacional Central para Varones. In the 1920s, Cardoza moved to Paris, France where he became friends with André Breton
. Influenced by the avant-garde
members of the surrealist
movement, his first work titled "Luna Park" was published in 1923 and dedicated to the Guatemalan writer Enrique Gómez Carrillo
(1873-1927). He also got to know fellow Guatemalan writer Miguel Ángel Asturias
who came to Paris to study at the Sorbonne
. Decades later in 1991 Cardoza wrote a book entitled Miguel Ángel Asturias, Casi Novela (Ediciones Era) about their time in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s that earned him the 1992 Mazatlan Literature award in Mexico.
under the Guatemalan government of Lázaro Chacón
but in the early 1930s left the job and his country because of the dictatorial rule of new President Jorge Ubico
. He chose to live in self-imposed exile in Mexico City
where he became a member of the Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios
(LEAR), an artist and intellectual group(Renato Leduc,Federico Cantú.Federico Cantú Garza Luis Ortiz Monasterio , Alfonso Reyes, Jose Moreno Villa) that at the time had considerable influence on the artistic, cultural and political life of Mexico. In 1936 Cardoza welcomed to Mexico the French artist Antonin Artaud
who had been an early influence as part of the Surrealist movement in Paris.
Following the 1944 overthrow of the military dictatorship of General Jorge Ubico in Guatemala, Luis Cardoza was elected to the Asamblea Constituyente (Constituent Assembly). In 1945, the new leftist government made him Guatemala's envoy to Sweden
, Norway
, and the Soviet Union and two years later in 1947 he was appointed Ambassador to Colombia
and later Ambassador to Chile
and then France. Political turmoil and the ensuing Guatemalan Civil War
saw Cardoza flee his country again and return to live in Mexico where he made a living working for the newspaper, El Nacional. While there, he became associated with painter
s such as David Alfaro Siqueiros
and Diego Rivera
as well as with members of the writers group, "Contemporáneos".
In 1974 he was called called "one of the most interesting unknowns in Latin America [...] whose work somehow never attracted much attention, by rights he should have ranked with Carlos Pellicer
or Xavier Villarrutia. Perhaps because he was Guatemalan he never seemed to receive critical notice."
Before his death in Mexico City in 1992, Luis Cardoza received wide acclaim for his writings, especially for those on art.
For a full list of works, see also:
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n writer, essayist, poet, art critic
Art critic
An art critic is a person who specializes in evaluating art. Their written critiques, or reviews, are published in newspapers, magazines, books and on web sites...
, and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
born in Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches...
but who spent a good part of his life living in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Cardoza attended primary school in Antigua Guatemala and at the Colegio Centroamericano in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
. His received a secondary education in the city's Instituto Nacional Central para Varones. In the 1920s, Cardoza moved to Paris, France where he became friends with André Breton
André Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
. Influenced by the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
members of the surrealist
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
movement, his first work titled "Luna Park" was published in 1923 and dedicated to the Guatemalan writer Enrique Gómez Carrillo
Enrique Gómez Carrillo
Enrique Gómez Carrillo was a Guatemalan literary critic, writer, journalist and diplomat...
(1873-1927). He also got to know fellow Guatemalan writer Miguel Ángel Asturias
Miguel Ángel Asturias
Miguel Ángel Asturias Rosales was a Nobel Prize–winning Guatemalan poet, novelist, playwright, journalist and diplomat...
who came to Paris to study at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. Decades later in 1991 Cardoza wrote a book entitled Miguel Ángel Asturias, Casi Novela (Ediciones Era) about their time in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s that earned him the 1992 Mazatlan Literature award in Mexico.
Exile and diplomatic career
Luis Cardoza was appointed Consul General of Guatemala in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
under the Guatemalan government of Lázaro Chacón
Lázaro Chacón González
Lázaro Chacón González was the acting President of Guatemala from 26 September 1926 to 18 December 1926 and President of Guatemala from 19 December 1926 to 2 January 1931....
but in the early 1930s left the job and his country because of the dictatorial rule of new President Jorge Ubico
Jorge Ubico
Jorge Ubico y Castañeda was a Guatemalan dictator who held the title of President of Guatemala from 14 February 1931 to 4 July 1944.-Early years:...
. He chose to live in self-imposed exile in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
where he became a member of the Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios
Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios
The Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios was a Mexican association of revolutionary artists and writers. It was established in the house of its first president Leopoldo Méndez in 1933 in due to the disbanded "Sindicato de Trabajadores Técnicos, Pintores y Escultores" , and was defined as...
(LEAR), an artist and intellectual group(Renato Leduc,Federico Cantú.Federico Cantú Garza Luis Ortiz Monasterio , Alfonso Reyes, Jose Moreno Villa) that at the time had considerable influence on the artistic, cultural and political life of Mexico. In 1936 Cardoza welcomed to Mexico the French artist Antonin Artaud
Antonin Artaud
Antoine Marie Joseph Artaud, more well-known as Antonin Artaud was a French playwright, poet, actor and theatre director...
who had been an early influence as part of the Surrealist movement in Paris.
Following the 1944 overthrow of the military dictatorship of General Jorge Ubico in Guatemala, Luis Cardoza was elected to the Asamblea Constituyente (Constituent Assembly). In 1945, the new leftist government made him Guatemala's envoy to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and the Soviet Union and two years later in 1947 he was appointed Ambassador to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and later Ambassador to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and then France. Political turmoil and the ensuing Guatemalan Civil War
Guatemalan Civil War
The Guatemalan Civil War ran from 1960-1996. The thirty-six-year civil war began as a grassroots, popular response to the rightist and military usurpation of civil government , and the President's disrespect for the human and civil rights of the majority of the population...
saw Cardoza flee his country again and return to live in Mexico where he made a living working for the newspaper, El Nacional. While there, he became associated with painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s such as David Alfaro Siqueiros
David Alfaro Siqueiros
José David Alfaro Siqueiros was a social realist painter, known for his large murals in fresco that helped establish the Mexican Mural Renaissance, together with works by Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco, and also a member of the Mexican Communist Party who participated in an...
and Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
as well as with members of the writers group, "Contemporáneos".
In 1974 he was called called "one of the most interesting unknowns in Latin America [...] whose work somehow never attracted much attention, by rights he should have ranked with Carlos Pellicer
Carlos Pellicer
Carlos Pellicer Cámara , born in Villahermosa, Tabasco, was part of the first wave of modernist Mexican poets and was heavily active in the promotion of Mexican art and literature...
or Xavier Villarrutia. Perhaps because he was Guatemalan he never seemed to receive critical notice."
Before his death in Mexico City in 1992, Luis Cardoza received wide acclaim for his writings, especially for those on art.
Assorted works
- Luna Park (1923)
- Maelstrom (1929)
- La torre de Babel (1930)
- Catálogo de pinturas (1934)
- El sonámbulo (1937)
- Mexican Art Today (Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1943)
- Pequeña sinfonía del Nuevo Mundo (1949)
- Pintura mexicana contemporánea (1953)
- Guatemala, Las líneas de su mano' (1955)
- Quinta estación (1974), containing all of his poems up to that point; published without dates, notes or bibliography
- Miguel Ángel Asturias, Casi Novela (Miguel Ángel Asturias, Almost a Novel) (1991)
For a full list of works, see also:
- Bibliografía de Luis Cardoza y Aragón - Roberto Fuertes Manjón, Midwestern State UniversityMidwestern State UniversityMidwestern State University is a public liberal arts college in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
Honors
- 1970 : honorary degree from the Faculty of Humanities, University of San CarlosUniversidad de San Carlos de GuatemalaThe Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala It is the biggest and oldest university of Guatemala, also it is the fourth founded in the Americas....
in Guatemala. - 1978 : "Quetzal de Jade" award from the Association of Journalists of Guatemala
- 1978 : "Order of Diego de Porres" from the Consejo Nacional para la protección de Antigua Guatemala
- 1979 : "Condecoración del Aguila AztecaOrder of the Aztec EagleThe Order of the Aztec Eagle is a Mexican order and is the highest decoration awarded to foreigners in the country.It was created by decree on December 29, 1933 by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez as a reward to services given to Mexico or humankind by foreigners...
" - Mexico's highest award given to foreigners - 1992 : Mazatlan Literature Award for his book Miguel Ángel Asturias, Casi Novela
Memorials
- The Galería Luis Cardoza y Aragón is an art exposition area at the Centro Cultural Bella ÉpocaCentro Cultural Bella ÉpocaThe Centro Cultural Bella Epoca is a cultural 3,000 square meter cultural centre in the Condesa neighborhood in Mexico City. It includes the Rosario Castellanos bookshop which carries over 35 thousand different titles, and has a children’s area, a coffee shop, and reading facilities...
in CondesaCondesaOfficially, Colonia Condesa is an administrative division or “colonia” located west of the historic center of Mexico City, just south of Avenida Chapultepec. Popularly, the name “La Condesa” is named after the second, the María Magdalena Dávalos de Bracamontes y Orozco, the Countess of Miravalle,...
, Mexico named in his honor. - Mexico awards the Luis Cardoza y Aragón National Prize of Art Critique
- The Luis Cardoza y Aragón Popular Culture Center in QuetzaltenangoQuetzaltenangoQuetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú , or more commonly, Xela , is the second largest city of Guatemala. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality....
provides classes in art, music, and English to local children of Quetzaltenango who come from disadvantaged families. - The Luis Cardoza y Aragón Auditorium at the Mexican Embassy in Guatemala is named in his honor.
External links
- Luis Cardoza y Aragon on the Guatemalan Literature Webpage