The Prodigal Son (1922; Rome, Italy) by Giorgio de Chirico

The Prodigal Son - Giorgio de Chirico - 1922; Rome, Italy

Artwork Information

TitleThe Prodigal Son
ArtistGiorgio de Chirico
Date1922; Rome, Italy
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions59 x 87 cm
Art MovementMetaphysical art
Current LocationGalleria d'Arte Moderna, Milan, Italy

About The Prodigal Son

“The Prodigal Son” by Giorgio de Chirico, completed in 1922 in Rome, Italy, is an oil on canvas painting measuring 59 x 87 cm. This artwork is part of the Metaphysical art movement and is housed in the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan, Italy. It is an allegorical painting.

The artwork depicts a vividly surreal and mysterious scene characteristic of de Chirico’s metaphysical style. In the painting, two figures are prominently featured against a backdrop of classical architecture and an expansive landscape under a cloudy sky. The foreground shows one figure clad in vibrant, anatomically exaggerated attire and the other draped in a simpler, pale garment. The figures’ faces are obfuscated; one is painted in a solid red hue while the other remains blank, suggesting a lack of individuality. The two engage in a gesture that can be interpreted as an embrace, imbued with both intimacy and ambiguity. This composition evokes a sense of enigma and introspection, inviting the viewer to delve into its symbolic and allegorical meanings.

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