The Manifesto of the Seven Arts, written by Ricciotto Canudo in 1912, is a pivotal document in the history of modern art and cinema. Canudo, an Italian-French artist and art critic, was a key figure in the development of the Futurist movement, which sought to break away from traditional forms of art and embrace the dynamism and energy of modern life. The manifesto, which was first published in the French newspaper "Figaro" on February 18, 1912, and later in Italian in the newspaper "L'Occidente" in March 1912, outlines Canudo's vision for a new kind of art that would incorporate the moving image.
Canudo rejected the idea that cinema was merely recorded theatre or a carnival trick. He argued that cinema is the only art capable of uniting the (architecture, sculpture, painting – which appeal to the eye via static form) and the Arts of Time (music, poetry, dance – which unfold rhythmically). The motion picture, he wrote, is a "plastic art in movement." Manifesto Das Sete Artes Ricciotto Canudo.pdf
Throughout the manifesto, Canudo emphasizes the importance of movement and dynamism in the creation of this new art form. He argues that the cinema, with its ability to capture and project movement, offered a unique opportunity for artists to explore the rhythms and energies of modern life. Canudo also emphasizes the importance of the artist's role in shaping this new art form, arguing that the artist must be free to experiment and innovate in order to create something truly original and groundbreaking. The Manifesto of the Seven Arts, written by