The Drinker 1914

Umberto Boccioni made this painting, ‘The Drinker,’ with oils, and a square canvas. Imagine him, standing there, brush in hand, wrestling with form and space. The whole thing feels like it’s about to burst apart. The geometric shapes create a sense of dynamism, almost like a machine in motion, or a person. I am struck by the yellows and browns. They create this enveloping warmth, a feeling of being wrapped up in something familiar, a bit like a Van Gogh. Then those blues and reds hit you with a jolt. They bring a sharpness, a kind of rude awakening. Look how the brushstrokes build up the texture. You can almost feel the energy he put into each stroke, each decision. It feels like he's not just representing a table but also how light fractures and refracts. It reminds you that painting isn't just about what you see, but about how you see and how you feel when you see.