Ivo Pilar's contribution to literary theory and criticism

Abstract

Ivo Pilar (1874-1933) wrote several important works in which he discussed critical and theoretical aspects of literary and artistic creation. These works belong to the study of literature but the Croatian public is a lot more familiar with his geopolitical and historical writings. The reason why his works on the study of literature have been put aside for a long time does not necessarily have to do with their relevance in the Croatian literary history but with the fact that during the pro- Serbian regime they were labeled as politically incorrect. Although Pilar never developed a characteristic theoretical concept that would secure him a position among other modernist critics in Croatia, his work in this field certainly deserves our greater attention. Into the existing study of literature and art in general, Pilar introduced his own innovative ideas. Interesting choice of themes, aesthetic criteria (combining literature and visual arts) and the fact that his works were published in Zagreb and Sarajevo make Pilar's work an essential part of a more complete and more detailed synthesis of the Croatian literary theory and history on the undivided Croatian cultural territory. Franjo Markovic, a member of the older generation of modernist writers, harshly criticized Pilar, the first of the three younger writers (Pilar, Dežman, Gjalski). His intention was to discredit Pilar's Secesija. Nevertheless, he eventually recognized its great importance. Pilar published a series of important articles: "Secesija, studija o modernoj umjetnosti" (Vienac, Zagreb 1898), "Zagrebački literarni pokret" (Kranjčević's Nada, Sarajevo 1903) and "Kako su nastala Zapamćenja" (Napredak). In these articles Pilar defines himself as a promoter of modem art: art which he brings from Berlin and Vienna to Zagreb and Sarajevo. Pilar's theoretical work is parallel to the creative writings of Silvije Strahimir Kranjčevič. Pilar also tried to introduce aesthetic criteria into his criticism. Barac was familiar with his contribution to the Croatian literary history and writing about Markovic and his attack on the young generation of modernist writers; he directly presents us the work of Ivo Pilar. The fact that Pilar wrote about the study of literature during a period of about thirty years shows that his work in this field was not just a young man's whim, but a systematic study of the phenomena he was interested in.