Three Horses Tended by Men; Stone Pavement (recto); Horses and Figures in a Landscape (verso) 1910

Umberto Boccioni made this drawing of horses and figures, with ink on paper, at the turn of the century when Italy was on the brink of modernization. Here, Boccioni seems to capture the labor and raw energy of a changing world. The horses, rendered with thick, dark lines, appear powerful yet burdened, perhaps reflecting the working class experience. The figures, sketched with minimal detail, seem to be dwarfed by the animals they tend, suggesting a social hierarchy and the physical demands of labor. Boccioni was interested in how the Futurist movement could disrupt traditional artistic forms and societal norms. It's interesting to think about how Boccioni, as a man, portrays men in relation to the natural world of the horses. In a time of rapid change, Boccioni uses the drawing to explore the complex relationship between humans, animals, and the built environment.