April Evening 1908

Umberto Boccioni built up ‘April Evening’ with countless tiny brushstrokes in greens, blues, reds, and yellows. I imagine him outside, squinting at the scene, trying to capture that particular hazy evening light. I can almost feel his frustration when trying to work out what to emphasize and what to leave out. What details to include, what to simplify. I empathize with him, as the artist has to find ways of making the painting be alive. Look at how the layers of paint create texture and depth, and how the colors interact. I particularly love how the dabs of white and yellow in the trees give the impression of blossoms, almost as if the trees are vibrating with life. Boccioni’s work can be compared to other futurists or even pointillists. In the end, this work is a testament to the ongoing dialogue artists have with one another across generations, inspiring new forms of seeing and feeling. It shows how painting at its best is about embracing uncertainty and ambiguity.