Carmen Conde in the post-war Spanish press (1939-1955): criticism, literary education and aesthetic education

Abstract

This essay examines the literary and artistic criticism produced by Carmen Conde (1907–1996) in the Spanish post-war press (1939–1955), focusing on her contributions to El Español, La Estafeta Literaria, Catolicismo, La Verdad, and La Vanguardia. By analyzing the articles published in these outlets, alongside her books and anthologies, several conclusions are drawn. First, it is confirmed that Conde approached criticism with an educational purpose aimed at audiences of all ages, although a significant portion of her work appeared in sections dedicated to children. Second, it is argued that Conde’s work aligns with the tradition of impressionist criticism practiced by writers and creators outside academic institutions. Among her influences, Azorín emerges as the most significant, alongside Ramón Menéndez Pidal, and Dámaso Alonso. Moreover, Conde’s criticism often integrated cultural perspectives, combining literary analysis with evaluations of other artistic forms. During this period, she focused more on historical criticism than on contemporary works and engaged with all literary genres, though she ultimately favored poetry. Finally, while she reviewed more texts by male authors than by women, her efforts culminated in a pioneering contribution to the construction of a female literary tradition through the publication of anthologies dedicated to this subject.