Josep Vicenç Foix


Josep Vicenç Foix i Mas was a Catalan poet, writer, and essayist in Catalan. He usually signed his work by using the abbreviation J.V. Foix.

Biography

Born in Sarrià, Barcelona, Foix was a son of one of a baker. He started university studies in law, but soon left them after the second course. Later, he worked in the familiar business as well as he read classic masterpieces of literature by authors such as Lord Byron, Dante Alighieri or Charles Baudelaire. Foix remained rooted to the place where he was born, even after the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War. Foix's work had consistent liberal tone; he also generally introduced avant-garde ideas to Catalonia.
In 1916, Foix began to collaborate with La Revista and started to become interested in avant-garde art. He found work among publications such as Trossos, La Cònsola or La Publicitat, where he worked as an art director.
At the end of the Spanish Civil War, Foix returned to the familiar business, and his artistic presence for some time receded. During this time he also compiled his entire poetic opus, and he acted as a mentor for young artists adjacent to the avant-garde scene, such as Joan Brossa.
On 25 May 1962, he became a member of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans. His popularity continued to grow, with thanks to Joan Manuel Serrat and his song És quan dormo que hi veig clar, which was adapted from one of Foix's poems.
He received many different awards during his life. Included among them are the Gold Medal of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Catalan Literary Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1984, the Parliament of Catalonia proposed that he should be considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
J. V. Foix helped in 1985 to reestablish the students' association Federació Nacional d'Estudiants de Catalunya. He was named President de Honour of it.
He died in 1987, and was buried in Sarrià. His personal library is located at the Biblioteca de Catalunya.