The young Paulo Barreto and the symbolists

Abstract

Two days before being eighteen years old, Paulo Barreto (1881-1921), who became better known by the pseudonym of João do Rio, started as a critic of literature and arts for the newspaper Cidade do Rio, directed by José do Patrocínio. From 3 August 1899 to 11 September 1901, several articles were signed by Paulo Barreto under the initials P. B. or the pseudonym of Claude. In some of these texts, the young critic approached Brazilian and French symbolist works. His considerations about the symbolism were in general mainly negative, because his valuation was based on positivism and scientifi c concepts, which were incompatible with the “neurosis” and “extravagances” of the so-called nefelibatas.