Bragaglia, Anton Giulio (1890-1960) and Arturo (1893-1962), Italian Futurists and pioneers of ‘photodynamism’. As young men the two brothers shared an interest in photography and film, frequenting the Cines film studios where their father was general manager. Each, however, pursued different aspects of photography, Anton Giulio the theoretical, Arturo the technical. The brothers were practically inseparable, and this division of labour between theory and practice, though both took pictures, suited them perfectly. In 1911 they began the research that would lead them to photodynamism, initially a meeting of Futurist principles with the chronophotography of Étienne-Jules Marey. While Arturo perfected the technique, his brother promoted photodynamism through lectures and exhibitions.
In 1912, under the patronage of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, they were accepted into the Italian Futurist group, though Umberto Boccioni would see them out a year later. Their 1913 manifesto Fotodinamismo futurista also distanced them from Marey's sequential technique in favour of using long exposures (The Cellist, 1913). Subsequently the brothers continued their work, producing photomontages and ‘spiritualist photography’ in addition to photodynamism; the First World War, however, ended their collaboration. Anton Giulio later produced films and avant-garde theatre, while Arturo continued working as a professional photographer, and eventually became director of Cinecittà's photographic department.
— Molly Rogers
Bibliography
- Anton Giulio Bragaglia: fotodinamismo futurista (1970)
