Leisure and Fast pace

Moving away from the classical art of the 18^th century, modern art of the 19^th century paved the way for artist to freely express new idea, taste, and experiment. The modern age gave rise to exceptional range of moment. Impressionism arose as a way to confront conventional subject matter and new style of painting. Soon after the World War I, futurism took advantage of the machinery age and makes their art a fast pace, moving toward abstract expressionism.  Impressionism broke the tradition and futurism embraced their contemporary world. They are so far apart in time yet they are quite similar in their idea concept as to provide new concept and technique. Both enjoy the quality of light and speed, as well as depicting their contemporary time.

William Merritt Chase, Idle Hours, 1894

In the late 19^th century, the age of leisure, people began to enjoy quality lifetime. Theme of parties, ballroom, public event, and the circus seem to be the dominant subject of art. Impressionism also focused in this subject yet their brush stroke was more loosely, free spirit to capture the essence of the picture. Their focus is not to depict detail and reality rather a feeling of the moment. William Merritt Chase, an American painter captured the height of the moment that was happening in Europe. His painting Idle Hour portrayed the leisure hour of his family on the dune of Shinnecock, Long Island. We see a carefree aspect of the girlhood and the warm spirit of the sunny day. As an Impressionist, Chase painted in loose brushstroke and bold complimentary color that captured the light fill day. There was minimal attention to details rather capturing the essence of the scene. From a distance up close, we see the brushstroke moving in the wind direction giving a lively aspect of the sunny day and the breezy wind. In a way, Chase painted the impression of Europe style yet still remained American artists who loved the scenery of American landscape.

Umberto Boccioni, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space,1914

In the mist of industrial revolution, there are many artists who break the convention and embrace the modern technology. Futurism born out of the machinery age and quickly empower light and speed. Being directly influence by cubism as to form and shape but futurism give another dynamic dimension through their work by making the object and form moving in space and racing with speed. As the most expressive artist of futurism, Umberto Boccioni fuse futurism in his sculpture showed power and speed. His sculpture, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space captured the essence of futurism as being influence by Cubism form but making those forms moving continuously in space. The sculpture showed a dynamic human body with muscularity that resembled metal sheet and machine. Boccioni also interested in making his sculpture moving. The sculpture has one feet moving forward while the other feet is stretching back. It gave the sculpture a lively speed as well as giving the illusion that it moving forward in a timeless space.

Both artist use different medium to portray their contemporary time. The Idle Hour by Chase brought a visual language to show the mind set of late 19^th century life-style. Unique Forms of Continuity in Space also spoke directly to its current time. The interest in technology and machinery showed in the sculpture as it solid like a machine and animated in space. Both work also interest in light. Impressionist used light to capture the color though the light fill scenery. Futurism also used light as an inspiration. The speeds of light seem to interest futurist as they obsess with speed and continuous motion. Also the form of futurism is fragmented just like the impressionism painted in fragments of color. Impressionism captured the essence of a scene, which is similar to futurism where it captured the essence of a form.

However, both work is completely different in esthetic and form. The Idle Hour still used one point perspective which gives the illusion of a window. We don’t see that the picture is moving in space Unique Forms of Continuity in Space broke away from perspective rather the work can be view in multiple angles. Here we don’t see the depiction of reality in futurism. The movement depicted machinery and form in space that doesn’t reflex reality. Impressionism was still taking the aspect of depicting reality. We see Idle Hour as realistic scenery that depictsed real people. It focus was mainly the leisure of life. Futurism took reality but make their work abstract, injected an interest in the future of technology.

          The two art movements are so far apart yet they still connect in many aspects. Futurism might relate to us more as we are constantly surrounding by technology and machine. Impressionism speak to us on a different level, the moment of joy and leisure that we might not have time to enjoy.  While both art movements may not be entirely relevant to the psychology of modern day, they still contribute a visual language that transcend and transform modern art. 

Source: 
* Hunter, Sam, John M. Jacobus, and Daniel Wheeler. Modern Art: Painting,  Sculpture, Architecture, Photography. [Upper Saddle River, N.J.]: Prentice Hall, 2004. Print.