Ljubo Babić’s (1919) Painting as an Example of the Modernist Theme of New Urbanization

Abstract

This paper analyzes Ljubo Babić’s 1919 painting, The Construction, examining its relationship to Umberto Boccioni’s La Città (che) sale from 1910-11. While Babić’s work shares some compositional and thematic similarities with Boccioni’s futurist masterpiece, it does not necessarily imply a complete adoption of futurist ideology. As noted by other scholars (e.g. flag motif paintings), Babić often engaged with models of contemporary European art, resulting in hybrid transformations. In The Construction, this is evident through the depiction of a city under construction, a symbol of energy, strength, and faith in the progress of the new era, reflecting a broader modernist theme.

Keywords

• Ljubo Babić
• Umberto Boccioni
• futurism
• expressionism
• construction
• modern art