the founder of futurism and its most influential personality was the italian writer filippo tommaso marinetti. marinetti launched the movement in his "futurist manifesto", which he published for the first time on 5 february 1909 in "la gazzetta dell'emilia". this article was reprinted in the french daily newspaper "le figaro" on 20 february 1909. marinetti was soon joined by the painters umberto boccioni, carlo carrà, giacomo balla, gino severini and the composer luigi russolo.