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It was the year 1912, and the world of art was ripe for a revolution. Ricciotto Canudo, a passionate and visionary Italian artist, had grown tired of the conventional boundaries between art forms. He believed that the arts had become stagnant, confined to their respective silos, and that it was time to break free.
The seven arts, as outlined by Canudo, were:
For an in-depth analysis of the manifesto's enduring influence, you can explore academic literature on early European film theory. Share public link
The text in its 1923 form can be read on Filosofia.org . Manifesto Das Sete Artes (Canudo) | PDF - Scribd
While modern thinkers dislike hierarchies, Canudo’s pyramid is essential for understanding intermedia studies. He places Architecture at the base (shelter for life) and Cinema at the apex (shelter for the soul).
Canudo rejected the idea that cinema is merely recorded theater or photography. Instead, he called it a new, independent artistic language.
The story of the manifesto is not one of a single publication, but rather an evolution across two key moments that led directly to the concept of the "Manifesto Das Sete Artes".
The manifesto's core principles are threefold:
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