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An exploration of Italian Futurism
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'Unique Forms of Continuity in Space' by Umberto Boccioni (1913)
Boccioni, as both a painter and sculptor, was a central figure in Futurism. 'Unique Forms of Continuity in Space,' wherein he depicts the fluid movement of the human body, is considered one of the movement's masterpieces and currently appears on the Italian 20 cent euro coin. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
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'The Hand of the Violinist (The Rhythms of the Bow)' by Giacomo Balla (1912)
Futurism's artists glorified speed and motion, and painter Giacomo Balla helped capture both in the movement's first wave. In 'The Hand of the Violinist,' the musician's hand is made to look like it's vibrating through space. (© 2014 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SIAE, Rome)
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'Speeding Train' by Ivo Pannaggi (1922)
In the years following World War I, Futurism's "cult of the machine" adored the train as a symbol of speed, power, and modernity — ideals they made frequent mention of in their many manifestos. This ethos was captured in their 'arte meccanica' (machine aesthetics), of which 'Speeding Train' is a perfect example. (Courtesy of Fondazione Cassa di risparmio della Provincia di Macerata)
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'Cimino Home Dining Room Set' by Gerardo Dottori (early 1930s)
Futurists had the lofty goal of "reconstructing the universe." As such, their art extended beyond paintings and sculpture and into furniture and even toys. Dottori, for example, created this vision of a dining room set to achieve the 'opera d'arte totale' or total work of art. (© 2014 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SIAE, Rome the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice)
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'Synthesis of Aerial Communications' by Benedetta (1933-34)
Benedetta was a highly-regarded artist and writer, and just happened to be married to Futurism's founder F.T. Marinetti. 'Synthesis of Aerial Communications' is one of three major murals she painted, depicting telecommunications over air, land, and sea. Like all Futurist works of art, it's forward-looking, but the mural is also (somewhat paradoxically) meant to evoke the ancient frescoes of Pompeii. (© Benedetta Cappa Marinetti, used by permission of Vittoria Marinetti and Luce Marinetti’s heirs)
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'Before the Parachute Opens' by Tullio Crali (1939)
'Aeropittura' or 'aero painting' was the last major expression of Futurism's second wave. By then, painters had moved on to the airplane as the height of technological advancement, especially as Mussolini's Fascists exalted Italy's military prowess in the air. Artists like Crali experimented with dizzying perspectives and views of iconic Italian landscapes. (© 2014 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/SIAE, Rome)
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