EN
The paper describes the theoretical and literary-historical aspects of European modernism. It focuses on the issue of neo-romanticism and modernism in Latvian literature, both artistic streams developed in it side by side from the turn of the 19th and 20th century to approximately the year 1914. The author places neo-romanticism and modernism into the wider literary context, attempts to define common features and differences between them and draws attention to updating of antique Greek literature and philosophy. The paper explores the character of Latvian neo-romanticism and modernism, describes Latvian modernism via the individual streams – decadence, impressionism, symbolism and secession. It deals with the question of contribution of neo-romanticism and modernism for the literary context of the times.