Julián del Casal
Julián del Casal (1863–1893) was a significant Cuban poet recognized as a precursor to the Modernismo movement in Latin America. Born in Havana, he faced early hardship with the death of his mother and later financial difficulties that curtailed his formal education. Influenced by the works of Charles Baudelaire and fellow poet José Maria de Heredia, Casal's literary endeavors began in his youth, marked by the founding of a newsletter and the publication of his first poems in 1881. His poetic voice was shaped further by his interactions with contemporaries like Juana Borrero and Rubén Darío, and he produced notable works such as *Hojas al viento* (1890) and *Nieve* (1892).
Casal's poetry often conveyed deep pessimism, influenced by his struggles with tuberculosis, and featured themes from distant cultures, particularly Japan, reflecting the aesthetic trends of the time. Tragically, his life was cut short just before his thirtieth birthday due to a sudden medical emergency during a dinner party. Despite his brief career, Casal’s posthumous collection, *Bustos y rimas*, published in late 1893, continues to reflect his unique contribution to Latin American literature.
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Julián del Casal
Poet
- Born: November 7, 1863
- Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
- Died: October 21, 1893
Biography
Deeply influenced by Charles Baudelaire and fellow Latino poet José Maria de Heredia, Cuban poet Julián del Casal is widely considered a forerunner of Modernismo, the modernist movement in Latin America. Born in Havana on November 7, 1863, Casal was named after his father; his mother died in 1868. As a young man, he founded a newsletter, The Student, and his first poems appeared in other magazines in 1881. Casal briefly pursued formal education in law at the University of Havana, but soon left to study literature; however, his education was cut short by the failing fortunes of his family.
In November of 1888, Casal left Cuba to visit Madrid, with the intention of visiting Paris. However, the visit ended early; in 1889, Casal returned to Cuba without ever making it to France. In Cuba he made the acquaintance of Juana Borrero and especially Rubén Dario, both of whom influenced his later writing.
Casal’s first two books of poetry followed rapidly, Hojas al viento [leaves in the wind] in 1890 and Nieve [snow] in 1892. His work reflects a deep pessimism and sensibility possibly heightened by his painful struggle with tuberculosis. Casal often chose subjects from far-off lands, especially Japan, which reflected the current French fashion of japonisme or japonaiserie. He also wrote several noteworthy sonnets inspired by some of the pictures of Gustave Moreau.
While finishing his third collection of poetry, Bustos y rimas [busts and rhymes], Casal attended a dinner party given by Dr. Lucas de los Santos Lamadrid, on October 21, 1893. During the dinner, an outburst of laughter caused an aneurism; Casal hemorrhaged to death immediately. He died just before reaching his thirtieth birthday; Busts and Rhymes was published posthumously in late 1893.