Futurism and Cubism (With Image Comparison)

Futurism and Cubism

Futurism was an Italian art movement of the early twentieth century that aimed to capture in art the dynamism and energy of the modern world, art that celebrated the modern world of industry and technology. Futurist painting used elements of neo-impressionism and cubism to create compositions that expressed the idea of the dynamism, the energy and movement, of modern life.

Cubism was inspired by the representation of three-dimensional form in the late works of Paul Cézanne. In Cubist artwork, objects are analysed, broken up and reassembled in an abstracted form. Instead of depicting objects from one viewpoint, the artist depicts the subject from a multitude of viewpoints to represent the subject in a greater context.

Nude Descending A Staircase No.2 – Marcel Dechamp

Comparison of the Images

To compare, firstly the painting is based upon the photography of Étienne-Jules Marey who created images, similar to the one I have taken, as studies of movement with overlaid images created with long exposures and multiple flashes of light. The painting displays the descent of a person down a staircase in an incredibly abstract manner, not only displaying the overlaid motions and various stances but also various angles of each stance to create the full image. In comparison my image shows the motion, in many stages, each separate but overlaid to create the full motion over the seconds it was taken. It was effective due to the strong light on the subject re-exposing the black background at each motion stance. They are comparatively similar in the way they depict an action through many overlaid images creating the effect of motion, but the photograph lacks the ability of expression of mood and to display various angles of the subject.