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Giacomo Balla     Italian, 1871-1958
Dynamism Of A Dog On A Leash, 1912
Oil on canvas
Bequest of A. Conger Goodyear to George F. Goodyear, Life interest, and the Gallery, 1964

As the title of this painting implies, Giacomo Balla’s primary subject is movement and speed. By multiplying the number of tails, legs, ears, leashes, and shoes in the composition, Balla has created the illusion of a small dog and his mistress out for a fast-paced walk. The impression of speed is further emphasized by the diagonal lines on the ground and the hatch marks that enliven the frame. Even the artist’s signature contributes to the effect.

Balla was a member of the Futurist group, which developed in Italy in the first two decades of the twentieth century. Their written manifestos focused on the future, glorifying machines, technology, speed, and war. In searching for an appropriate style of painting to reflect the new era, they at first adopted divisionism, which is the application of paint in small dots. Balla used it in this work, applying a layer of dots over the forms to enhance his desired effect. Later, the Futurists turned to the broken planes and sharp lines of Cubism.

— Mariann Smith