Portrait of Miguel de Unamuno reading (c.1913)Unamuno House-Museum, Salamanca University
Unamuno's daily life was almost completely devoted to his work: the classes in the university, his years as chancellor, his writing and political activity, and his journalistic concerns left little time for relaxing.
Despite this, he knew how to enjoy peaceful moments of downtime, letting his boundless imagination run free with drawing, reading, or origami. In his student days, he loved to play chess, but tended to prefer outdoor activities as time went on. Daily social gatherings in Salamanca and his passion for photography were his other leisure activities. Where did he find time for so much activity?
Unamuno in his office (February 1, 1908)Unamuno House-Museum, Salamanca University
The discoverer of origami birds
The Spanish term cocotología comes from the colloquial French word cocotte, used by origamists to mean a small paper bird. Unamuno also used it as an overall term to refer to his great hobby of origami. He even wrote a scholarly text on the subject: Notes for a Treatise on Origami (Apuntes Para un Tratado de Cocotología).
As a child, Unamuno took up the habit of making small birds out of paper to play with his cousin. The Siege of Bilbao by Carlist forces meant that they could not go out to play in the street, and origami was a fun way for them to keep themselves entertained during this time. The writer never lost his enjoyment in this hobby, and even passed it on to some of his children and grandchildren.
A flock of sweet little birds
A typical little bird made in Unamuno's style was known as an avechuche, meaning a sweet little bird. This name was unique, as was the particular design invented by the writer. Unamuno also made endless paper figures inspired by different animals, eventually naming them all in this intriguing way.
The House-Museum dedicated to Unamuno holds two small oil paintings that the painter created after studying painting with the master Lecuona. There is no record of Unamuno creating further works of this type, but after that he did pick up the habit of carrying about a notebook in his pocket, in which he would make small sketches of everything that caught his attention.
"From a very young age I was trained in the art of drawing, and then in painting, and if I have abandoned the latter, it is because I discovered that my aptitude for coloring was scant. Linework and chiaroscuro,
Unamuno reading in his bed (1934)Unamuno House-Museum, Salamanca University
certainly, but not color; it always got away from me"
The self reader. Unamuno was a great reader. He devoted much of his leisure time to books. His personal library contained more than 6,000 texts. He donated it himself to the University of Salamanca. It contained all sorts of works and books in a number of different languages.
Chess Tournament (1939) by Hansel MiethLIFE Photo Collection
The seduction of chess
In his student days, Unamuno would spend up to 10 hours playing chess at a time. His love of the chessboard waned somewhat over time, although he always kept a certain interest in the game. During his exile in Fuerteventura, he would spend his afternoons playing with his translator, John Ernest Crawford Flitch, before going for a walk.
An eternal spring
Arriving from a city as cold as Salamanca meant that the writer made the most of Fuerteventura's climate. He went on trips around the island, rode on camels, dove into the sea, sunbathed, and went squid fishing in the boat belonging to his friend, the islander Antonio Hormiga.
Unamuno's turbulent years of exile did not get in the way of him enjoying one of his favorite activities: walking. His walks around the city or along the beach became a ritual. They provided a feeling of calm that helped him in his personal struggle against the injustice of what he was going through.
Miguel de Unamuno making origami (c. 1932)Unamuno House-Museum, Salamanca University
Little birds here, little birds there
Any moment was a good opportunity to turn a small piece of paper into little birds and delight an appreciative public. In breaks between classes, meetings, or lectures, little birds would fly about everywhere, ending up in the hands of admiring students who enjoyed their professor's skill.
Relaxing with Barry
On almost every occasion Unamuno had free time, he would escape the hustle and bustle of the city. He would sometimes stay with friends like Dr. Bernardo Velarde who, along with his dog Barry, was delighted to host him at his farm in Tanos, a haven of peace and calm near Torrelavega.
“Vacations at last! Three months ahead to harmonize and melodize the spirit, letting it graze in the green of the fields, in unfettered light that falls onto the mountains from a naked sun”
Back and forth along the Zamora road
Unamuno's habit of walking along the Zamora road was so famous that in 1960, the sculptor Pablo Serrano Aguilar produced a sculpture of the writer during one of these moments of leisure. The figure has his hands in his pockets with one thumb on the outside, conveying a pleasant impression of relaxation.
Church of San Juan de Sahagun by Miguel de UnamunoUnamuno House-Museum, Salamanca University
The evening gathering
On the long, cold evenings of a Salamancan winter, Unamuno would go to the Novelty or Casino cafés after his walk. There he would usually meet friends and colleagues for his customary social gathering. If there was nobody there with whom he could have a discussion, he would entertain himself by folding little birds out of the serviettes.
Photographic extraction
Unamuno posed for endless photographs during his lifetime. Without intending it to be so, it was his way of achieving the immortality he yearned for. There are more than 600 images in his archive, a significant number for someone of his era. These days, he would be a true influencer.
Photographic composition with origami figuresUnamuno House-Museum, Salamanca University
Much more than hobbies
A large number of drawings, photographs, and texts on Unamuno's hobbies have been preserved, which are essential for discovering the most personal details of the writer. A legacy in paper that makes it possible to recreate the private moments of daily leisure.
