Motivo con la parola, 1925
Oil on canvas
30 x 30 inches | 77 x 77 cm
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Giacomo Balla (b. 1871, Turin, Italy – d. 1958, Rome, Italy) was a key figure in modern art, known for his work in the Futurist movement. Initially studying music, he shifted to visual arts after his father's death and worked in a lithograph print shop. By age 20, he studied painting and exhibited his early works. Moving to Rome in 1895, Balla worked as an illustrator, caricaturist, and portrait painter. His career gained momentum with his inclusion in the 1899 Venice Biennale and the Esposizione Internazionale di Belle Arti in Rome.
Influenced by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Balla adopted Futurism, focusing on light, movement, and speed. He signed the "Futurist Manifesto" in 1910 and designed Futurist furniture and clothing. During World War I, his studio became a hub for young artists. He was made a member of Rome's Accademia di San Luca in 1935. Balla's works are exhibited in major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Tate Modern in London, and the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome.