Umberto Boccioni - theorist and pioneer of futurism

A century has passed since the very unusual direction in art - futurism. This revolutionary trend arose under the influence of the rebellious century. Masters of the early twentieth century sought to move forward, portray a way of life associated with urbanization and the development of technological progress. Many painters of those times tried their strength in this direction. But the Italian master Umberto Boccioni is the founder, father, ideologist, icon of the futuristic style.

Childhood

In the small village of Reggio di Calabria, in the south of Italy, the Italian artist Boccini (1882) was born. His parents were from the northern Italian region - Romagna. Often the family moved from one city to another and finally settled in the city of Catania. Here the boy received a secondary education, but still had no attachments to the fine arts. In 1901 he settled in Rome and entered the Academy of Fine Arts.

Early learning

It was in Rome that Umberto Boccioni met his co-author in a futuristic direction - Severini. Both of them were taught by the famous artist Giacomo Balla, from whom the young man learned the technique of pointillism. After that, Boccioni traveled a lot around Italy, visited Paris and visited Russia. The Italian artist encountered the features of impressionism. In Milan, Umberto gets acquainted with the poet-symbolist Marinetti. It is he who will publish in a French newspaper a futuristic manifesto. Boccioni became his follower.

First works

Where did Umberto Boccioni start? Pictures of the initial period were distinguished by the use of small smears of pure shades in them. Initially these were portraits. The first works of the painter were also characterized by the old Italian features of art, they differed from the advanced French trends, inspired by revolutionary motifs. In Rome, Umberto was able to learn to draw nudity. And so he came to futuristic painting.

The most famous work of the young Boccioni - "Paolo and Francesca." It merged dynamic and lyrical features, it is devoted to the eternal theme of love. All the usual ideas about art change, looking at the artist's early picture "Laughter." A very memorable work of the author is the painting "The state of the soul." In it, the master was able to capture his vision of the world with chaotic lines, reminiscent of people, cars, animals. The intuitive artistic world of Umberto Boccioni consists of blurred faces, obscure figures.

The main features of the artist's work

Boccioni followed the precepts of the futuristic Manifesto Marinetti for a very long time. His work is inherent in the unfinished composition, openness of the surrounding space. The main task in writing his paintings was color, not form. In his works, the master could combine completely incompatible things. These ideas pushed art to a new direction - pop art. The source of inspiration for the Italian celebrity was science, technology, dynamism, speed, the will to live.

A little later to the futuristic features of the artist adds elements of cubism. Steady elements, geometric figures attached to the works of monumentality. In his paintings, Boccioni conveyed everything seen and felt as one whole. City fuss is the main theme of his creations. Shattered whirlwinds, unusual shapes, colorful faces, fragments. His work can be compared with a picture in a children's kaleidoscope. Movement - that's the meaning of life and creativity of a remarkable Italian artist.

Sculptural works of the master

A very versatile personality was Umberto Boccioni. Sculptures also took place in the works of the great master. Visiting the studio very well-known at the time of the artists, Boccioni decided to apply his futuristic principles to sculpture. He performed several works in this style and wrote the Manifesto of Futuristic Sculpture. In 1913, the artist began to publish in one of the futuristic newspapers. In it, he with full force promoted the ideas of the fashion movement in painting and sculpture. The master believed that any drawing or sculpture is a kind of whirlwind of emotions. From the word "whirlwind" there was a new direction in English art - vorticism. It was Boccioni who gave impetus to his appearance. In vartitsizme more corners, dynamism, rather than futurism. In place of these two styles, abstract art has come.

Rock

When the First World War began, she quickly captured the whole of Europe, showed her fierce face, spreading violence. Umberto Boccioni, along with other Futurists, enlisted in the volunteer battalion of the regular army. He could see all the horrors of the war. On vacation, the artist continued to write and give lectures on futurism. During the exercises in one of the artillery brigades, Umberto failed to manage the horse and crashed to death. After his death, no one led the futuristic movement, it disintegrated, losing its young leader. Boccioni lived only 33 years.