Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978,) fully Giuseppe Maria Alberto Giorgio de Chirico, was an Italian painter, writer, and philosopher who pioneered the scuola metafisica movement, profoundly influencing surrealism. His enigmatic paintings, marked by dreamlike cityscapes, eerie mannequins, and unsettling perspectives, explored themes of time, memory, and the unknown.
Born in Volos, Greece, de Chirico was the eldest son of Gemma Cervetto and Evaristo de Chirico, a railway engineer. He studied at Athens Polytechnic before moving to Germany in 1906 to attend the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where he was influenced by Arnold Böcklin, Max Klinger, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Arthur Schopenhauer.
Notable works include the surrealist novel Hebdomeros (1929) and the essay collection Il Signor Dudron (1972; Mr. Dudron,) which explores his artistic philosophy. His paintings, such as Il canto d’amore (1914; The Song of Love) and La nostalgia dell’infinito (1912–13; The Nostalgia of the Infinite,) embody his signature style.
Later, de Chirico adopted neoclassical and neo-Baroque styles while frequently revisiting metaphysical themes. His influence extended beyond painting, shaping modernist literature and philosophy.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Giorgio de Chirico
To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere. But once these barriers are broken, it will enter the realms of childhood visions and dreams
—Giorgio de Chirico
Topics: Immortality
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