Notes on Futurism
FUTURISM
Origin and Historical Context:
1909 – 1944 (?)
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (from Milan) published Manifesto of Futurism lashed out against cultural tradition (passatismo) at that time, and called for a rebirth of Italy advocated an uncompromising acceptance of modernity in all its manifestations, including electricity, automobiles, and machines; “All subjects previously used must be swept aside in order to express our whirling life of steel, of pride, of fever and of speed.”
January 1909 – a pamphlet of the said manifesto was sent out to thousands of artists and poets; February 20, 1909 – it appeared on the front page of the Parisian newspaper Le Figaro
Considered to be one of the most politicized art movements of the 20th century
Futurist soirees were held; this is where they would recite poems and display art, while shouting politically charged rhetoric at the audience in the hope of inciting riot
Belief: agitation and destruction would end the status quo and allow for the regeneration of a stronger, energized Italy
Said beliefs of this movement led the Futurists to support WWI, which influenced a number of them to enlist in the army
However, by 1911, most of them had become disenchanted with Marinetti’s politics and instead chose to concentrate only on art itself.
Technique and Style (and Examples):
Although Futurists utilized and adopted theories and techniques from Divisionism and Cubism, their works were very different.
“Much like Seurat, they wanted to create a new artistic language based on science, but without prescribing any one style. Their goal was to capture the intensity of movement – physical, psychological, and universal.”
Wanted to convey motion, dynamic energy, and social progress
Examples of Umberto Boccioni’s works:
PAINTINGS:
Riot in the Gallery (1909)
His first major Futurist painting remained close to Pointillism, however was still able to show an affiliation with Futurism mainly in its violent subject matter
Origin and Historical Context:
1909 – 1944 (?)
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (from Milan) published Manifesto of Futurism lashed out against cultural tradition (passatismo) at that time, and called for a rebirth of Italy advocated an uncompromising acceptance of modernity in all its manifestations, including electricity, automobiles, and machines; “All subjects previously used must be swept aside in order to express our whirling life of steel, of pride, of fever and of speed.”
January 1909 – a pamphlet of the said manifesto was sent out to thousands of artists and poets; February 20, 1909 – it appeared on the front page of the Parisian newspaper Le Figaro
Considered to be one of the most politicized art movements of the 20th century
Futurist soirees were held; this is where they would recite poems and display art, while shouting politically charged rhetoric at the audience in the hope of inciting riot
Belief: agitation and destruction would end the status quo and allow for the regeneration of a stronger, energized Italy
Said beliefs of this movement led the Futurists to support WWI, which influenced a number of them to enlist in the army
However, by 1911, most of them had become disenchanted with Marinetti’s politics and instead chose to concentrate only on art itself.
Technique and Style (and Examples):
Although Futurists utilized and adopted theories and techniques from Divisionism and Cubism, their works were very different.
“Much like Seurat, they wanted to create a new artistic language based on science, but without prescribing any one style. Their goal was to capture the intensity of movement – physical, psychological, and universal.”
Wanted to convey motion, dynamic energy, and social progress
Examples of Umberto Boccioni’s works:
PAINTINGS:
Riot in the Gallery (1909)
His first major Futurist painting remained close to Pointillism, however was still able to show an affiliation with Futurism mainly in its violent subject matter