Boccioni was a key member of the Futurists, an art movement that flourished in Italy at the start of the twentieth century. The Futurists rejected traditional art and society and, influenced by avant-garde movements in Paris, sought to create work that celebrates the mechanical beauty, speed, and dynamism of modern technology. Boccioni was interested in both painting and sculpture and made valuable achievements in both sculptural theory and works. A walking man was his leading theme, intended to express motion and continuity. This sculpture presents the zenith of his efforts.