Futurism
• 1911 - 1933
Futurism
1909 - 1944
Purpose
• to express movement, particularly the
accelerated locomotion of modern
technological life through the fragmentation
and splintering of forms
• to transform Italy from an agrarian state to a
technologically advanced modern one
Filippo Marinetti
1876-1944
“We will sing of great crowds excited
by work, by pleasure, and by riot; we
will sing of the multicolored polyphonic
tides of revolution in the modern
capitals; we will sing of the vibrant
nightly fervor of arsenals and shipyards
blazing with violent electric moons;
greedy railway stations that devour
smoke—plumed serpents; factories hung
from clouds by the crooked lines of their
smoke; bridges that stride the rivers like
giant gymnasts, flashing in the sun with
the glitter of knives; adventurous
steamers that sniff the horizons; deepchested locomotives whose wheels paw
the tracks like the hooves of enormous
steel horses bridled by tubing; and the
sleek flight of the planes whose
propellers chatter in the wind like
banners and seem to cheer like an
enthusiastic crowd.”
Filippo Marinetti, The Futurist Manifesto (20 February 1909).
Russolo, Carrà, Marinetti, Boccioni, and Severini in Paris (1912).
Umberto Boccioni. Speeding Car or Motor Car and
Fox Hunting (1904). Tempera on thin paste-board.
Étienne-Jules Marey.
Chromophotographic Study
of Human Locomotion. Man
In a Black Costume with
White Lines and Dots (1886).
Étienne-Jules Marey.
Chromophotographic Study
of Human Locomotion.
Successive Views of a Man
Running (1886).
Étienne-Jules Marey.
Chromophotographic Study
of Human Locomotion. Man
Walking in a White Costume
with One Black Leg (1886).
Étienne-Jules Marey. Chromophotograph: Man Pushing a Cart
(1891).
Giacomo Balla
1871 -1958
Giacomo Balla. Street Light
(1909). Oil on canvas.
Giacomo Balla. The Hand of the Violinist or Rhythm
of the Violinist (1912). Oil on canvas.
Giacomo Balla. Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash
(1912). Oil on canvas.
Giacomo Balla. Abstract Speed (1913). Oil on canvas.
Giacomo Balla. Abstract Speed (1913). Oil on canvas.
Giacomo Balla. Swifts: Paths of Movement and
Dynamic Sequences (1913). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni (1882 – 1916)
I-We-Boccioni
Umberto Boccioni. The City Rises (1910-11). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. Riot
at the Gallery (1910). Oil
on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. States of Mind: The Farewells (1911). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. States of Mind: Those Who Go
(1910). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. States of Mind: Those Who
Stay (1911). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. States of Mind: Those Who Go
(1911). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. States of Mind: Those Who
Stay (1911). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. Modern Idol
(1911). Oil on wood.
Umberto Boccioni. The Street Enters
the House (1911). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. Elasticity (1912).
Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. Head (1912). Wood.
Umberto Boccioni. Development of a Bottle in
Space (1912). Bronze.
Umberto Boccioni. Unique
Form of Continuity in Space
(1913). Bronze.
Umberto Boccioni. Dynamism of a Cyclist (1913). Oil on canvas.
Umberto Boccioni. Charge of the Lancers (1915).
Tempera and collage on paste-board.
Umberto Boccioni.
Dynamism of a Racing
Horse and House (191415). Gouache, oil, wood,
paste-board, copper, and
painted iron.
Carlo Carrà
1881 -1966
Carlo Carrà.
Portrait of Marinetti
(1910-11).
Oil on canvas.
Carlo Carrà. Burial of the Anarchist Galli (1911). Oil on canvas.
Carlo Carrà. Interventionist
Demonstration (1914).
Collage on paste-board.
Carlo Carrà. The Red Horse (1914). Oil on canvas.
Gino Severini
1883-1966
Gino Severini.
La danseuse obsédante
(1911). Oil on canvas.
Gino Severini. The Boulevard (1911). Oil on canvas.
Gino Severini.
Dynamic
Hieroglyphic
of the Bal
Tabarin (1912).
Oil on canvas.
Gino Severini. The Blue
Dancer (1912). Oil on
canvas.
Gino Severini.
Self-portrait (1912-13).
Oil on canvas.
Gino Severini. Gun in Action (1915). Oil on canvas.
Gino Severini.
The Armored Train
(1915). Oil on canvas.
Luigi Russolo
1885 - 1947
Luigi Russolo and his noise machine
Luigi Russolo
and friends (1913)
Luigi Russolo. Music (1911).
Oil on canvas.
Luigi Russolo. Revolt (1911). Oil on canvas.
Luigi Russolo. Dynamism of a Car (1912-13). Oil on canvas.
Luigi Russolo. Dynamism of a Train (1914). Oil on canvas.
Anton Giulio and Arturo Bragaglia. Typist (1911). Photodynamic.
Anton Giulio Gragaglia
Thais, stills (1916).
Mario Chiattone. Bridge and
Study of Volumes (1914).
Watercolor and China ink
On paper.
Mario Chiattone.
Construction for a
Modern Metropolis
(1914). Watercolor and
China ink on paper.
Antonio Sant’Elia. New City,
Study (1914). Ink on paper.
Antonio Sant’Elia.
The New City, Study (1914).
Watercolor on paper.
Antonio Sant’Elia.
Power House (1914).
Pencil and inks on paper.
Giacomo Balla. Jacket, sketches (1930). Tempera on paper.
Giacomo Balla.
Man’s Clothing (1918).
Pieced fabrics.
Giacomo Balla. Woman’s
Clothing (1930). Pieced
fabrics.
Giacomo Balla. Waistcoat
(1918). Woolen embroidery
on cloth.
Giacomo Balla. Futurist Clothing
(1913). Tempera on paper.
Giacomo Balla. Fabric Design (1913).
Tempera on paper.