Study of a Man's Forearm (recto); Study of Extended Arms with Hands Clasped (verso)

The detailed preparatory Study of a Man's Forearm (recto); Study of Extended Arms with Hands Clasped (verso), executed by Umberto Boccioni in 1908, showcases the artist’s mastery of academic draftsmanship prior to his radical commitment to Futurism. This graphite on paper drawing exhibits the careful anatomical observation characteristic of his early career.

The meticulous treatment of the human form, particularly the hands and forearms, demonstrates Boccioni’s focus on studying the complexities of gesture. The recto presents a robust study of a single forearm, utilizing subtle shading and clear graphite lines to define muscle structure and bone with striking accuracy. On the verso, the composition shifts to a more dynamic study of two extended arms with hands clasped, perhaps suggesting an emotive or narrative interaction between figures. This drawing emphasizes the hands as crucial elements for conveying human emotion and physical tension, a motif Boccioni would later fragment and abstract in his more mature works.

Created as Boccioni was transitioning rapidly from Divisionism towards a fully realized modern style, this double-sided work provides invaluable insight into his development as a visual artist. While his later works revolutionized the depiction of speed and dynamism, this 1908 drawing confirms his foundational skill in representation. Many such preliminary drawings from this period, now considered part of the public domain, reveal the rigorous academic foundation that underpinned his revolutionary phase. The piece is held within the distinguished collection of drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as an important document of the formative years of one of modern Italian art's most influential figures.