The prophecy that Catalans would one day travel the globe with all expenses covered remains the most distinct element of the thought of Francesc Pujols. Born in Barcelona in 1882, this Spanish writer, poet, and philosopher spent his life articulating a complex system of belief while navigating the shifting intellectual and political landscapes of twentieth-century Catalonia.
Early Literary and Critical Work
Pujols began his career during his secondary school years, drawing inspiration from Jacint Verdaguer and Joan Maragall. In 1902, he participated in the Jocs Florals of Barcelona, earning the Natural Flower for his poem Idil·li. By 1904, his collection El llibre que conté les poesies de Francesc Pujols appeared with a prologue by Maragall. His transition into art criticism began with a lecture on Marian Pidelaserra at the Ateneu Barcelonès, leading to his 1921 publication Recull de crítica artística. He notably championed the architect Antoni Gaudí, producing the book La visió artística i religiosa d’en Gaudí in 1927.
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In 1918, Pujols published Concepte General de la Ciència Catalana, arguing for a specific Catalan philosophical lineage beginning with Ramon Llull and Raymond of Sabunde. He developed a rigorous philosophical framework under three different titles throughout his career: Sumpèctica, also known as the Science of the Concrete; Hiparxiologia, or the Science of the Existence; and finally Pantologia, the Science of the Whole. In 1931, Josep Pla documented these theories in the volume El sistema de Francesc Pujols. Manual d’Hiparxiologia, solidifying the public record of his intellectual output.
Political Engagement and Exile
Pujols maintained an active role in public life, including serving as secretary of the Ateneu Barcelonès starting in 1924, working alongside president Pompeu Fabra. His political writings included the two-volume Història de l’hegemonia catalana en la política espanyola, as well as La solució Cambó and El problema peninsular. Following the Spanish Civil War, he sought exile in 1939 at Prada de Conflent under the hospitality of Pablo Casals. He later resided at the Résidence des Intellectuels Catalans in Montpellier before returning to Catalonia in 1942, where he spent a period of time in the Model prison in Barcelona.
Influence and Legacy
During his later years, particularly while in Montpellier, Pujols engaged with younger figures such as Alexandre Cirici Pellicer and Heribert Barrera. His work held a profound influence on the painter Salvador Dalí, who illustrated this fascination through the 1960 oil painting Hyparxiological Sky and the 1974 book Pujols per Dalí. Dalí later commissioned a monument to the philosopher, which stands at the entrance of the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres. Pujols continued contributing to publications like Destino until his death in 1962 in Martorell.
Fast facts
- Born: 1882, Barcelona, Spain
- Died: 1962, Martorell, Spain
- Known philosophical systems: Sumpèctica, Hiparxiologia, Pantologia
- Pen name: Augusto de Altozanos
- Notable work: Concepte General de la Ciència Catalana
- Languages: Spanish, Catalan
Questions readers ask
What was the core of the Catalan philosophical tendency identified by Pujols?
He believed it began with Ramon Llull and continued with Raymond of Sabunde, asserting that Catalans held a unique position as children of the land of truth.
How did Salvador Dalí support the legacy of Francesc Pujols?
Dalí wrote the book Pujols per Dalí, painted the work Hyparxiological Sky, and erected a monument to him outside the Dalí Theatre and Museum.
