The artwork titled “Portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire” is a distinguished piece by Giorgio de Chirico, created in the year 1914 in Paris, France. Rendered in oil on canvas within the Metaphysical art movement, this portrait measures 81.5 x 65 cm and is presently located at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, France.
The artwork showcases a multi-layered composition typical of de Chirico’s Metaphysical art style, blending classical and contemporary elements to evoke a sense of mystery and philosophical inquiry. The painting features a statue-like bust donning dark sunglasses, occupying the foreground with an air of solemnity. Behind this central figure, a shadowy silhouette and geometric shapes interplay against a muted, stark background. On the right side of the composition, abstract forms resembling a fossil and an ancient artifact remind viewers of temporal juxtapositions and enigmatic symbolism recurrent in de Chirico’s works. The overall mood is one of contemplative quietness, laced with an underlying tension, inviting deep reflection on the passage of time and the nature of existence.
