Young Man on a Riverbank (recto); Study of a Wagnerian Scene (verso) by Umberto Boccioni, executed in 1902, is a significant early drawing that foreshadows the artist's foundational role in Italian Modernism. This dual-sided work utilizes a complex combination of opaque watercolor, charcoal, and pastel on paper, showcasing Boccioni's growing proficiency across mixed media techniques years before his Futurist manifesto.
The recto image, Young Man on a Riverbank, depicts a solitary male figure seated quietly beside a river. This contemplative scene reflects the figurative studies common at the turn of the century, emphasizing the peaceful integration of men within the natural environment. The delicate application of watercolor captures the atmospheric quality of the river setting, indicative of the artist's traditional training during this period.
The verso, Study of a Wagnerian Scene, offers a thematic contrast, shifting toward dramatic, perhaps theatrical, illustration that suggests Boccioni’s broader intellectual interests. The use of charcoal allows for stark definition and rapid notation in this preparatory drawing. Both sides of the paper document the technical versatility of Boccioni as a draughtsman prior to his mature style of dynamic abstraction, demonstrating his early explorations of line, color, and form. Classified as an important transitional work, this piece resides within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, helping to document the pivotal development of 20th-century Italian art.
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