States of Mind: Those Who Go - Umberto Boccioni

A seminal Futurist work by Umberto Boccioni, capturing the sensation of speed and motion through fragmented forms and rhythmic, diagonal brushwork.

States of Mind: Those Who Go is a primary example of the Futurist attempt to capture speed, motion, and the psychological experience of modern life. Painted in 1911, this work is part of a triptych that explores the emotional states associated with railway travel. Boccioni rejects static representation, choosing instead to fragment the visual field into a series of overlapping planes and directional lines.

The composition conveys the sensation of a train in motion. Figures are dissolved into the surrounding environment, their forms merging with the blurred lines of the carriage and the exterior view. The artist employs a palette of deep blues, greys, and muted ochres to suggest the industrial atmosphere of the early twentieth century. By layering these colours, Boccioni creates a sense of rhythmic movement that pulls the viewer across the canvas.

This painting reflects the Futurist fascination with technology and the changing perception of time. Rather than depicting a single moment, the work presents a synthesis of multiple perspectives and temporal shifts. The diagonal brushstrokes and sharp, geometric shapes suggest the force of a locomotive cutting through space. Boccioni aims to place the viewer inside the experience, making the act of travel a sensory event rather than a mere observation. The work remains a significant study in how visual language can translate abstract concepts like velocity and departure into a tangible, physical form. It avoids traditional perspective, opting for a dynamic structure that mirrors the chaotic energy of the machine age.