How did Modernismo influence Pablo Neruda’s early poetry?

Modernismo, a Spanish-language literary movement influenced by French Symbolism, significantly shaped the early work of Pablo Neruda. His first book of poetry, Crepusculario (1923), was written in the tradition of this movement, characterized by a subtle and elegant style.1

Modernismo provided a foundation for Neruda’s early development by emphasizing the use of innovative metres and daring metaphors to express individual values. While the movement focused on aesthetic beauty and sonorous language, Neruda eventually moved beyond these traditional prosodic molds. His subsequent work, such as Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924), retained a subtle and original approach to imagery while becoming more vigorous and direct, marking a transition away from the constraints of the Modernismo style toward the more experimental and personal expression that would define his later career.231