Broom (Magazine) - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
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Broom (Magazine), a fleeting yet incandescent presence in the landscape of early modernist literature and art, remains a fascinating enigma. Published from 1921 to 1924, its pages offered a vibrant, often contradictory, glimpse into the artistic ferment of the post-World War I era. Was it truly just a literary journal, or a clandestine meeting place for aesthetic radicals? The question lingers.
The earliest whispers of Broom arose from the transatlantic anxieties of Alfred Kreymborg, an American poet and editor seeking refuge from the stifling cultural climate of the United States. Founded in Rome in 1921, the magazine initially envisioned itself as a beacon for international modernism, a space where American voices could converse with their European counterparts. The reality, however, proved far more complex. Rome, then Berlin, finally New York City became the migratory paths the journal took until its ultimate dissolution.
Under the influence of Harold Loeb, Broom evolved into something bolder, more visually daring. It showcased the works of nascent avant-garde movements like Dada and Surrealism, featuring artists such as Picasso, Ernst, and de Chirico alongside experimental writers like Gertrude Stein and e.e. cummings. Yet, this evolution was not without its controversies. Loeb's increasingly abstract aesthetic choices alienated some of its original contributors, sparking debates about the very definition of modernism. It published translations of then-emerging European writers and artists, many who became literary giants. What secrets lie hidden within the magazine’s embrace of the unconventional, the fragmented, the deliberately obscure?
Broom's brief existence left an indelible mark on the cultural map. It helped to introduce European modernism to an American audience, paving the way for the rise of a new generation of artists and writers. Today, its rare and fragile issues are prized by collectors and scholars alike, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a moment of profound artistic and intellectual transformation. Does Broom represent a failed experiment, or a bold vision cut short? The answer, perhaps, lies buried within its pages, waiting to be rediscovered.