Styles ART RESEARCH

An art movement founded in Italy in 1909 by artist Filippo Marinetti, its followers demanded revolution, action and annihilation of the thinking of the past.  The focus was elements of the future---speed and energetic movement made possible by technology. Futurism had strength until the end of World War I, and eventually was taken over by the Nazis to justify implementing a New Era. Futurist artist, Gino Severini, one of the Italian founders of the movement, depicted human figures in motion, while American Frank Stella concentrated on the dynamic quality of modern technological life.  To illustrate the potential of fast-moving machinery and its affect on people, Stella painted scenes of the roller coaster ride at Coney Island. His scenes reflected one of the primary characteristics of Futurism, which was to create such compelling movement in his artwork that the viewer was pulled immediately into the action and never allowed the luxury of just being an onlooker.  Other artists linked to Futurism are Max Weber, David Burliuk, and Morris Kantor.  Sources: Kimberley Reynolds and Richard Seddon, "Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms"; AskART biographies.