poetism

English

Etymology

Coined by Karel Teige in the 1920s as poet +‎ -ism.

Noun

poetism (uncountable)

1. An avantgarde approach to art introduced by Karel Teige in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s in reaction to the prevailing proletarian art, encouraging lyricism and an epicurean attitude.
   • 1999, Chris Andrews, Poetry and Cosmogony:

     And it should be pointed out that poetism is less harmful to poetry than scientism, because although it may make a poetic text seem cranky or pretentious, it will not denature it.

   • 2006, Craig Cravens, Culture and Customs of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, page 155:

     Poetism was intoxicated with life, with its sensuality and lyricism, and for the most part poetism ignored life's darker aspects.

   • 2010, Ladislav Cabada, ‎Zdenek Benedikt, Intellectuals and the Communist Idea, page 104:

     Embracing poetism represented a definite departure of the Devétsil generation from proletarian art and consequently also a "breakup" with the offficial line of the Communist Party.

   • 2017, Harri Veivo, ‎ Jean-Pierre Montier, ‎ Françoise Nicol, Beyond Given Knowledge, page 97:

     Poetism was intended to be more of a “new aesthetic and philosophical attitude” and an “art of living”.

   • 2022, In the World of Signs: Essays in honour of Professor Jerzy Pelc, page 407:

     In Czechoslovakia, the artistic avantgarde that flourished in the interwar years was composed of two streams, poetism dominating the artistic scene until the early thirties, and surrealism which became the major force by 1934.

   • 2022, Esther Levinger, Constructivism in Central Europe, page 159:

     The means to the goal was Poetism. Tiege identified the poetist revolution with the revolution of human consciousness, for both aimed to end the divide between body and spirit.