Countryside with Trees 1908

Umberto Boccioni created ‘Countryside with Trees’ using paint and brush, engaging with a traditional artistic medium to depict the textures of an environment in flux. The layering of paint, dabbed and stroked onto the canvas, gives a sense of vitality to the trees and surrounding landscape. Boccioni has attended to the inherent qualities of his materials to create this effect. The earthy tones and rough texture of the paint mimics the organic forms of the trees. This technique connects the painting to the labor-intensive processes often associated with craft. It reflects the artist’s engagement with the natural world and the physical act of applying pigment to canvas. There’s a social dimension to this process: by emphasizing the work involved in making the painting, Boccioni elevates the act of artistic creation, connecting it to wider themes of labor and production. Looking at the materiality of ‘Countryside with Trees’ helps us to consider the cultural significance of the artwork, blurring the boundaries between fine art and craft.