Mother and Child

Umberto Boccioni completed this pastel on paper in 1906 while in Paris, years before he became a founding spirit of Italian Futurism. The intimate scene of a mother with her child is classified as Impressionist, reflecting his artistic training under Giacomo Balla rather than the explosive, mechanized imagery he would later champion.

Born in 1882 in Reggio Calabria, Boccioni would become one of the most radical voices in twentieth-century art. His ambition was to redefine art for the electrified, industrialized modern world. But in 1906, he was still exploring traditional subjects with gentle brushwork.

This early work shows the artistic foundation that Boccioni would later reject. Currently in a private collection, it captures a quiet domestic moment, worlds away from his later sculptures and paintings celebrating speed and movement. He died in 1916, just ten years after creating this tender scene.