Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Victoria Ocampo (7 April 1890 – 27 January 1979) was an Argentine writer, publisher, and intellectual.
Life and Career
Victoria Ocampo was born on 7 April 1890, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential cultural figures in 20th-century Argentina.
Ocampo was born into a wealthy family and was educated in Argentina and Europe. She was fluent in several languages and developed a passion for literature and the arts from an early age. Ocampo’s family was closely involved with Argentina’s cultural elite, and she grew up in a stimulating intellectual environment.
In 1920, Ocampo married the writer and diplomat Guillermo de Torre, and the couple lived in Europe for many years. During this time, Ocampo became closely associated with the literary and artistic avant-garde and developed close friendships with many of the leading cultural figures of the day.
Career: Ocampo is best known for her work as a writer and publisher. She founded the literary magazine Sur in 1931, which became one of the most influential cultural publications in Latin America. Sur published works by many of the leading writers of the time, including Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, and Gabriela Mistral.
Ocampo was also a prolific writer in her own right. She wrote several books, including autobiographical works and essays on literature and culture. Her most famous work is “Testimonios,” a collection of interviews with writers and intellectuals that was published in several volumes.
Throughout her career, Ocampo was a passionate advocate for cultural exchange and intellectual freedom. She was a vocal critic of Argentina’s conservative establishment and used her platform as a writer and publisher to promote progressive ideas and support social justice causes.
Victoria Ocampo’s legacy continues to inspire writers and intellectuals in Argentina and around the world, and her contributions to literature and cultural exchange remain an important part of Argentina’s cultural history.
She died on 27 January 1979, in Buenos Aires, Argentina at an age of 88.
Award and Legacy
Victoria Ocampo’s legacy includes numerous awards and recognitions.
Ocampo’s greatest legacy, however, is her contribution to the development of Argentine culture and her advocacy for intellectual freedom and social justice. As the founder of Sur magazine, Ocampo played a crucial role in promoting the works of Latin American writers and artists and in fostering cultural exchange between Latin America and Europe. Her commitment to progressive ideals and her advocacy for women’s rights and social justice continues to inspire writers and intellectuals in Argentina and beyond.
Ocampo’s work as a writer and publisher also had a profound impact on the development of Argentine literature. Her support for emerging writers and her promotion of modernist and avant-garde literature helped to shape the literary landscape of Argentina and established her as a key figure in the country’s cultural history.
Overall, Victoria Ocampo’s legacy is a testament to the power of literature and culture to promote social change and to the importance of intellectual freedom and cultural exchange in shaping the world we live in today.
On 7 April 2014, Google celebrated Victoria Ocampo’s 124th Birthday with a doodle.