Umberto Boccioni ( * 1882 † 1916 )

Umberto Boccioni: Pioneer of Italian Futurism

Umberto Boccioni was born on October 19, 1882, in Reggio di Calabria, Italy, and quickly established himself as a central figure of the Italian Futurist movement, which emerged before World War I. This artistic prodigy made a significant mark on the art of his time with his revolutionary sculptures and paintings, breaking established norms through his unique approach to the division of colors and shapes.

At the age of 16, Umberto Boccioni began studying design in Rome, where he met Gino Severini and Giacomo Balla. It was Balla who introduced him to the technique of divisionist painting, a late-impressionist method that breaks down colors into their basic elements, applied in a grid-like manner with discrete touches.

Around 1909, Umberto Boccioni's major influence took shape when he crossed paths with Tommaso Marinetti, the founder of Futurism. Inspired by this new artistic philosophy, Boccioni co-wrote the "Manifesto of Futurist Painting" as well as the "Manifesto of Futurism," alongside Carlo Carrà, Luigi Russolo, Giacomo Balla, and Gino Severini.

In 1911, Cubism became a significant source of inspiration for Boccioni, deeply influencing his work thereafter. The following year, he created "Elasticity," which is among his most famous achievements. Unfortunately, Umberto Boccioni's meteoric artistic career was abruptly ended in 1916 when he died from injuries sustained in a fall from a horse during the war.

Wall art prints and famous paintings by Umberto Boccioni
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