The Italian Futurism Movement

Futurism is a movement that celebrated technological advances and the urban lifestyle in Italy. The name is derived out of the desire and advocating for progress in technology and forward thinking concepts, both of which were lacking during the nineteenth century. The movement lasted from 1909 to 1929, and originated in literature through the poet, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. He wrote a manifesto that “…called for the destruction of museums and libraries… and glorified speed, violence, and warfare” (Atkins, 109). Futurism came as reaction to Italy’s lack of technological and cultural progression during the nineteenth century. This lack of cultural inactivity led Futurists to rebel against the Renaissance and Neoclassical characteristics that

Futurist artists were initially influenced by Impressionist’s uses of color as well as the isolated patches of color and segmented brushstrokes of the Neo-Impressionists. Futurists also heavily relied on Cubism and its basic principle of distorting figures and showing multiple viewpoints. They then abstracted this idea and applied it a new manner that conveyed emotion. Although Futurist pieces differed greatly from one another, most shared the visual element of depicting speed viewed in close range. This was often achieved through blending objects and figures with the background, so that neither could be discerned from one another and resulted in motion and action portrayed through distorted forms and perspectives. Futurist pieces resembled objects found in the physical world including, automobiles, airplanes, and cinemas, with some pieces nearing complete abstraction. Through these visual elements, Futurism hoped to establish a connection of empathy between the piece of art and its viewer, aiding in the expression of political messages and production of propaganda throughout World War I. This new movement directly influenced later movements including, Cubo-Futurism, Rayonism, Synchromism, and