Carlo Carrá 

This is Umberto Boccioni’s drawing of Carlo Carrà, made with graphite on paper. It’s a very simple, direct medium, common to many artists, from casual sketchers to old masters. But the way Boccioni applies the material to paper is what makes the drawing so compelling. Look at how the sharp angles of Carrà’s nose and brow are defined with brisk, sure strokes. You can almost feel the pressure Boccioni exerted on the graphite stick. The tonal range, from light grey to nearly black, shows the artist’s sensitivity to the material's expressive possibilities. Think about the social context of this work, too. Boccioni and Carrà were both members of the Futurist movement, which valorized speed, technology, and industry. Yet, here, Boccioni uses a decidedly low-tech means, a simple drawing, to capture his fellow artist. It's a reminder that even in the most radical artistic circles, traditional skills and materials often play a vital role. Ultimately, this drawing invites us to consider the relationship between artistic expression and the physical act of making.