"To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere."
— Giorgio de Chirico
Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978) was an Italian painter and writer best known as the founder of Metaphysical painting (Pittura Metafisica), a movement that profoundly influenced Surrealism and modern art. Born in Volos, Greece, to Italian parents, de Chirico was deeply inspired by classical antiquity, philosophy, and architecture. Around 1910, he developed a unique visual language that combined eerie, deserted cityscapes with classical elements, long shadows, and mysterious figures. His early works evoke a dreamlike atmosphere, blending reality with enigma. After World War I, de Chirico shifted toward a more classical style, which was met with mixed reception. Nevertheless, his early metaphysical period remains a cornerstone of 20th-century art and a major influence on artists such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Max Ernst.