The artwork, entitled “Planet Mercury Passing in Front of the Sun,” was created by Giacomo Balla in 1914 in Italy. It belongs to the Futurism art movement and is classified within the abstract genre.
The artwork features a vibrant use of colors and dynamic forms to depict the astronomical event of Mercury transiting across the face of the Sun. The composition integrates a brilliant array of orange, blue, and white hues, combining geometric shapes and energetic brushstrokes that convey a sense of motion and light. The central focus is an abstract interpretation of the Sun and Mercury, represented through intersecting lines and overlapping shapes that encapsulate the essence of movement and change, prominent themes in Futurist art. The bold and vivid palette illustrates Balla’s intention to capture the speed, technology, and progression that define the Futurism movement.
