The City Rises by Umberto Boccioni

 The City Rises by Umberto Boccioni was painted in 1910, it is oil on canvas. Boccioni was perhaps the most significant artist associated with the first wave of Futurist art.  The futurists were obsessed with showing speed and movement in art. Basicly this painting screams movement al around it and in it. From the man in the foreground charging to the man next to him with what looks like to be a metal pole of some kind. It captures not only movement in motion, but also the class stuggle of the rich and poor. Also the contrasting bright colours of red and blue define different objects making it appear crowded and chaoti; in a way it looks as it its an angry mob. It is a futurist artwork in which is concerned with the technological process and the energy of the urban environment

Personally I like this painting, for some reason it reminds me of Le Miz. It may be due to the colors used to creat the mob scene of just the idea of an uprising city to fight inequality. WHile this painting does bring movement, it also brings a message of fighting poverty.

Work Cited :  The Times Online. (January 12, 2009). Study for The City Rises by Umberto Boccioni (1910).

Dog on a leash by Giacomo Balla

Dog on a Leash is done by Giacomo Balla; It was painted in 1912. Its is oil on canvas measuring  35 3/8 by 43 1/4. This represents motion in painting at its finest. Notice how the dogs legs are painted in motion, the blur that is created, but looking closely you can make out the leg motion. It is painted as if its running or walking quite fast. Not only is the dog moving, but its owner as well. Notice how her legs are painted as well, in motion almost running. Her dress also indicates movement, its moving along with her leg motion and there maybe a small breeze as well. 

The background feels as though its moving too. The streaks give it that feel, almost as though the dog and its owner were rushing somewhere. Even the leash is painted to go with the flow of the painting, this sense of movement, rushing by. 

Personally I love this painting, I would hang it in my apartment...assuming I had the space. This really shows how artists attempted to paint motion in its full form. The leg movement, the multiple positions captures this in its full essence. 

Work cited:

Lubbock, Tom. "Great Works: Dynamism of A Dog on a Leash (1912) Giacomo Balla - Great Works - Art - The Independent." The Independent | News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper. 4 Sept. 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/great-works/great-works-dynamism-of-a-dog-on-a-leash-1912-giacomo-balla-1781174.html>.

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni. It was done in 1913 and is formed out of bronze. It stands 43.87 inches tall. It's viewed as an expression of movement and fluidity. He rejected traditional sculpture to create this piece.It is seen as a masterpiece of futurism art work. The movement makes it a very nice piece, showing in a way modern themes, or a futuristic sense of movement. The fluid motion seems very earth like in the sense of its the "cloth blowing in the wind".

The Cyclist by Natalia Goncharova

The Cyclist by Natalia Goncharova was done in 1913 before World War I. It is oil on canvas, and the style is Post-Impressionism.  This represents movement and motion with the man on his bike moving down the street. the background is somewhat blurry creating that sense of speed and movement; almost fooling the eye. It was sold in 2007 for 9.8 million dollars, this set a record for any female artist.