Ramona Victoria Epifanía Rufina Ocampo emerged as a central figure in the intellectual landscape of twentieth-century Argentina. Through her prolific output as an essayist and her role as the driving force behind the literary magazine Sur, she bridged the divide between European modernism and the South American literary tradition during a period of significant political upheaval.
Early Education and Influences
Born in 1890 in Buenos Aires, Ocampo was raised within a traditional upper-class family that discouraged formal schooling for women. Despite this, she gained a sophisticated education at home under the guidance of a French governess. During a family trip to Paris in 1906, she attended lectures at the Sorbonne and the Collège de France, where she developed an affinity for the philosophical work of Henri Bergson.
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In 1931, Ocampo established the magazine Sur, which became the preeminent literary journal in Latin America. The publication served as a vital platform for diverse thinkers and writers, including Jorge Luis Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares, and Albert Camus. Beyond her editorial work, Ocampo authored numerous essays and critiques, producing a ten-volume series titled Testimonios and a biography of T.E. Lawrence.
Political Engagement and Global Stance
Ocampo navigated a complex political path throughout her career. While she initially expressed interest in Benito Mussolini in 1935, she quickly distanced herself from his regime as his militarism grew and Italy invaded Abyssinia. By 1937, she aligned the magazine firmly against fascism. Her opposition to authoritarianism continued into the 1950s, leading to a brief imprisonment in 1953 for criticizing the government of Juan Domingo Perón.
Legacy and Institutional Recognition
As a prominent cultural patron, Ocampo hosted international guests such as Igor Stravinsky and Rabindranath Tagore at her residence, Villa Ocampo, which she donated to UNESCO in 1973. In 1976, she made history as the first woman admitted to the Academia Argentina de Letras. She received numerous honors, including the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres and the Maria Moors Cabot Prize, before her death in 1979.
Fast facts
- Full name: Ramona Victoria Epifanía Rufina Ocampo
- Born: 1890, Buenos Aires
- Died: 1979, Buenos Aires
- Founded magazine: Sur, 1931
- First woman member: Academia Argentina de Letras
- Nobel Prize in Literature nominations: 1970, 1974
- Buried at: Recoleta Cemetery
- House donation: Villa Ocampo to UNESCO, 1973
Questions readers ask
Did Victoria Ocampo matriculate at the Sorbonne?
No, she audited lectures there and at the Collège de France during a 1906–1907 trip but never formally matriculated.
What was the significance of the magazine Sur?
Founded in 1931, it served as the most influential literary magazine in Latin America, publishing works by authors such as Jorge Luis Borges, Ernesto Sabato, and Silvina Ocampo.
Achievements
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Maria Moors Cabot Prizes — 1965
