States of Mind: The Farewells (recto); Study for Female Figure (Ines) (verso) is a pivotal double-sided drawing created by Umberto Boccioni in 1911. Executed primarily in graphite on paper, this work documents the artist’s intense exploration into visual dynamism, serving as a preparatory study for his iconic series of paintings addressing modern urban experience. The recto focuses on the Futurist interpretation of motion, capturing the chaotic energy and emotional turbulence associated with the farewells enacted during train travel. Boccioni sought to fuse the subjective state of mind with the objective physical movement of machines and fleeting human figures.
The highly energetic and abstract line work defining the movement on the recto contrasts sharply with the focused figurative study on the verso. The reverse side, designated Study for Female Figure (Ines), demonstrates Boccioni’s skill in traditional draftsmanship. This study of a specific individual provides crucial insight into the artist's foundational practice before fully embracing the dissolution of form characteristic of his final Futurist style. This drawing classification highlights the essential role of graphite sketches in the rapid development of early 20th-century avant-garde movements.
These preparatory works illustrate Boccioni’s transition toward representing forms not as static objects but as force lines and interpenetrating planes. The complexity of depicting both generalized emotion (The Farewells) and specific human figures (Ines) within the confines of a single sheet makes this piece invaluable for understanding the artist's process. This essential drawing is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Due to the historical and educational value of this masterwork, reference photographs and associated prints are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread study and accessibility.
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