The Artist's Mother Crocheting 1907

Umberto Boccioni made this print of his mother in Italy, sometime in the early 20th century, using etching and drypoint. It depicts a domestic scene, with Boccioni's mother sitting by a window, absorbed in her crochet work. In its time, the very act of an artist choosing such a subject was quietly revolutionary. The image of a woman engaged in her daily life challenged the traditional, heroic themes that had long dominated the art world. In focusing on the domestic sphere, Boccioni questioned the established hierarchy of artistic subjects and the institutions that upheld it. To understand this work more fully, we can look to the social and cultural context of early 20th-century Italy. The rise of industrialization and urbanization was rapidly changing the fabric of society, leading artists like Boccioni to reflect on the impact of these changes on everyday life. We can find such material in letters, diaries, newspaper archives, and institutional records. This kind of historical research allows us to understand the meaning of art as something always contingent on its social and institutional context.