Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 17: Futurism - Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash (1912)

by Giacomo Balla

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The next four lessons focus on the futurism art movement. Originating in Italy, futurism looks forward to consider science and technology, mechanical objects, movement/multiple view points over time, and young people. The influence of other art movements, such as cubism, can be clearly seen in futuristic works. Giacomo Balla's animal genre painting, 'Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash' (1912), captures the movement of a dachshund out for a walk with its owner. The dog's leash, ears, legs, and tail along with the woman's feet are a blur of motion.

Vocabulary

Futurism: An early 20th century avant-garde art movement focused on speed, the mechanical, and the modern, which took a deeply antagonistic attitude to traditional artistic conventions.
Dachshund: A breed of dog having short legs and a long trunk.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Futurism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1909-1914

Movement Characteristics:

1. Speed, movement, and energy
2. Science and technology
3. Mechanical objects (e.g. cars, planes)
4. Rejecting the past and looking forward - change and youth emphasized
5. See the speed, movement, and energy exemplified by Giacomo Balla's 'Speeding Automobile' (1912), an example of futurism

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Cityscapes - 'The City Rises' (1910) by Umberto Boccioni

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Dachshund
• Leash
• Wagging Tail
• Skirt
• Shoes

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

• For part his life, Giacomo Balla lived in Rome, Italy.
• Find Rome on the map of Italy.
• Recite aloud the other countries bordering Italy.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the futurism art movement.
• Find futurism on the timeline.
• During which approximate years did futurism flourish?
• Which art movement followed futurism?

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 20 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is futurism?

1 / 7

Answer 1

Futurism is an early 20th century avant-garde art movement focused on speed, the mechanical, and the modern, which took a deeply antagonistic attitude to traditional artistic conventions.

1 / 7

Question 2

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

2 / 7

Answer 2

The artwork falls into the animal genre.

2 / 7

Question 3

What happens in the artwork?

3 / 7

Answer 3

The artwork shows a woman walking a dog.

3 / 7

Question 4

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

4 / 7

Answer 4

This painting belongs to the futurism art movement.

4 / 7

Question 5

How does the artwork serve as an example of futurism?

5 / 7

Answer 5

The painting's depiction of speed and movement are characteristic of futurism.

5 / 7

Question 6

Which genres commonly coincide with futurism?

6 / 7

Answer 6

Cityscapes often coincide with futurism.

6 / 7

Question 7

During which century was this artwork created?

7 / 7

Answer 7

This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1912).

7 / 7

❮ ❯

1. What is futurism? Futurism is an early 20th century avant-garde art movement focused on speed, the mechanical, and the modern, which took a deeply antagonistic attitude to traditional artistic conventions.
2. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the animal genre.
3. What happens in the artwork? The artwork shows a woman walking a dog.
4. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the futurism art movement.
5. How does the artwork serve as an example of futurism? The painting's depiction of speed and movement are characteristic of futurism.
6. Which genres commonly coincide with futurism? Cityscapes often coincide with futurism.
7. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1912).

References

'Futurism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.