Born in 1903 on Lobos Island, Josefina Plá emerged as the primary force in twentieth-century Paraguayan cultural life. Her career spanned sculpture, poetry, history, journalism, and ceramics. By the time of her death in 1999 in Asunción, she had produced more than forty titles and solidified her reputation as an essential referent for the nation’s artistic and social history.
Early Life and Migration
The daughter of a lighthouse keeper, Plá began writing poetry before she was seven years old. In 1924, while vacationing in Villajoyosa, she encountered the Paraguayan sculptor Andres Campos Cervera, who utilized the professional pseudonym Julián de la Herrería. They married in 1926, and she moved to Paraguay the following year, settling in Villa Aurelia and Asunción. She later returned to Spain, where her husband died in 1937, before she returned permanently to Paraguay.
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Plá worked extensively as a sculptor and ceramicist, contributing significantly to the modern art scene. In the 1950s, she co-founded the New Art Group, or Grupo Arte Nuevo, collaborating with Olga Blinder, Lilí del Mónico, and José Laterza Parodi. Her 1952 catalog entry for an exhibition by Blinder remains a key document for Paraguayan modernism. Her ceramic works and mosaics are found in Asunción, including at the Centro Cultural de España Juan de Salazar.
Literary and Historical Contributions
As a member of the vanguardista school of poetry, Plá produced a vast body of written work. Her theatrical career, often in collaboration with Roque Centurión Miranda, spanned from 1927 until 1974 and included numerous plays and opera scripts. Beyond creative writing, she authored comprehensive historical studies covering topics such as Paraguayan theater, the colonial book trade, indigenous imagery, and the history of slavery, alongside critical examinations of local crafts like ñandutí.
Honors and Recognition
Throughout her life, Plá received significant recognition for her contributions to letters and human rights. She was awarded the Knight of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in 1977 and the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts from Spain in 1995. Her professional affiliations included the International Academy of Ceramics and the Argentine Society of Writers. She died in 1999 and is buried at Recoleta Cemetery in Asunción.
Fast facts
- Born: 1903, Lobos Island, Spain
- Died: 11 January 1999, Asunción, Paraguay
- Citizenship: Spain and Paraguay
- Burial site: Recoleta Cemetery, Asunción
- Notable member: International Academy of Ceramics
- Published works: More than forty titles
- Artistic movement: New Art Group (Grupo Arte Nuevo)
- Cultural field: Poetry, sculpture, ceramics, and history
Questions readers ask
What was Josefina Plá's primary contribution to art?
She was a ceramicist, sculptor, and art critic who helped catalyze the modern art movement in Paraguay through the founding of Grupo Arte Nuevo.
Did Plá write outside of poetry?
Yes, she was a prolific historian, journalist, and dramatist who wrote extensively on Paraguayan social history, theater, and cultural identity.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
- Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts
