The progenitor of metaphysical painting — a dreamlike, realist style embracing sharp contrasts, sculpted forms and odd juxtapositions — Giorgio De Chirico profoundly influenced many Surrealist artists of his time. His early sculptures and paintings explored the complexities of the mind and reflected his affinity for contemporary European philosophy and Freudian psychoanalysis. Even though the metaphysical movement lasted only a brief time, he left a strong impression on such legendary surrealists as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and André Breton.
De Chirico was born in Volos, Greece, to Italian parents. His father was a Sicilian baron and engineer in charge of constructing a railroad in Greece at the time of his son’s birth. In his late teens, De Chirico studied art at various institutions in Athens and Florence. After his father died, in 1905, he enrolled in the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. Here, he discovered the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche and Arthur Schopenhauer that would help to shape his future works.
In 1909, De Chirico moved to Milan and then to Florence a year later, where he began experimenting with what would become his metaphysical style. After moving again, this time to Paris in 1911, his brother Alberto Savinio helped him get several small exhibitions of his work that eventually were noticed by Pablo Picasso and the poet Guillaume Apollinaire — and his paintings began to sell.
De Chirico was conscripted into the Italian Army in 1915 but was diagnosed with a mental disorder — likely anxiety — and sent to a military hospital where he met fellow artist Carlo Carrà. Together, they devised the metaphysical painting style that consisted of fantastical images of low-lit town squares uninhabited except for marble sculptures, dummies and stretched shadows, purposefully portrayed with flattened surfaces and warped perspectives.
By the 1920s, De Chirico’s style began incorporating Renaissance and Baroque elements, and later works, from the 1960s and ’70s, brought together neoclassicism, Surrealism and ancient mythology. His art is in major museum collections across the world, including the Tate Museum of Modern Art, in London; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, in Venice; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York.
On 1stDibs, find Giorgio De Chirico prints, drawings, sculptures and more.
Teseo
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in New York, NY
Color etching and aquatint, 1970. Signed by the artist in pencil, lower right. Numbered 2/50 in pencil, lower left. Titled in pencil, lower central. With the artist's blind stamp, l...
Etching, Aquatint
Calligrammes, by Guillaume Apollinaire and Giorgio De Chirico
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
Format : 2 Volumes, In-4° Typology : Print Suite Edition of 100 copies, including 65 original lithographs by Giorgio De Chirico in the text. This copy is in two volumes, unlike the standard edition printed in a unique volume. This edition is part of the only 6 made on Japan Supernacré Paper...
Handmade Paper
Gladitori
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in New York, NY
Color lithograph, 1963. Signed by artist in pencil, lower right. Numbered 5/95 in pencil, lower left. Titled in pencil, lower center. Prinbted by Alberto Caprini Rome, with the b...
Color, Lithograph
$352
Cruautes de la Nuit - Rare Book Illustrated by Giorgio De Chirico - 1927
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 532 copies. Copy on Holland de Rives. Good conditions, lightly wore on binding. Edition including an illustration by Giorgio De Chirico representing the portrait of the au...
Paper
$1,250
H 12.5 in W 9.75 in D 0.75 in
Cornucopia (limited edition hardback monograph hand signed by Damien Hirst)
By Damien Hirst
Located in New York, NY
Damien Hirst Cornucopia, 2010 Limited edition hardback monograph (hand signed by Damien Hirst) Hand signed in ink by Damien Hirst on the first front end page 12 1/2 × 9 3/4 × 3/4 inches This limited edition illustrated hardback monograph, with no dust jacket, exactly as issued, was published on the occasion of the artist's show at Musee Oceanographique de Monaco in April 2010, 'Cornucopia' celebrates Hirst's paintings and sculptures from 1994-2009." This book was gifted by Damien Hirst to a member of an American Rock & Roll band that Hirst befriended. Stated Limited Edition of 2000 (unnumbered) About the book: Publisher: Musée Océanographique de Monaco, 2010 Text: English / French. 160 pgs with color illustrations Limited Edition: 2000 (the regular edition is not signed; this was exceptionally hand signed by Hirst) About Damien Hirst: People are afraid of change, so you create a kind of belief for them through repetition. It’s like breathing. I’ve always been drawn to series and pairs. A unique thing is quite a frightening object. —Damien Hirst Since emerging onto the international art scene in the late 1980s, Damien Hirst has created installations, sculptures, paintings, and drawings that examine the complex relationships between art and beauty, religion and science, and life and death. From serialized paintings of multicolored spots to animal specimens...
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
$2,468
H 15.75 in W 13 in D 0.4 in
François Xavier Lalanne, bird on lillies, 2006
By François-Xavier Lalanne
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Natural history - François-Xavier Lalanne Etching Numbered out of 70 and signed F.X.L. in pencil Robert and Lydie Dutrou editors 2006. Paper size: 40x33cm Work size: 16x19.5cm
Paper
$29,383
H 11.03 in W 14.18 in D 1.19 in
Vitraux pour Jérusalem - Illustrated Book by M. Chagall, 1962
By Marc Chagall
Located in Roma, IT
"Vitraux pour Jerusalem" is one of the most important books illustrated by Marc Chagall and considered as one of his editorial masterpieces. Th...
Paper, Lithograph
$40,000
H 11.42 in W 15.36 in
Le Cocu Magnifique -- complete with 12 original etchings
By Pablo Picasso
Located in New York, NY
About In-folio Oblong Dimensions : 29x39 cm. Paris Atelier Crommelynck 1968 Edition #41 of 200 copies including 12 original out-of-text etchings (7 etchings, 4 etchings and aquatint...
Drypoint, Etching, Aquatint
$9,167
H 11.15 in W 8.78 in D 0.2 in
La Chèvre-Feuille - Illustrations by Pablo Picasso and G. Hugnet - 1943
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Roma, IT
La Chèvre-Feuille is an original Modern Rare book illustrated by Pablo Picasso and written by Georges Hugnet (11 July 1906 – 26 June 1974) in 1943 . Origina...
Etching
Jeune fille
By Henri Matisse
Located in OPOLE, PL
Henri Matisse (1869-1954) - Jeune fille Photogravure from 1937. Dimensions of work: 35.5 x 26.4 cm Publisher: Tériade, Paris. The work is in Excellent condition. Fast and secure...
Photogravure
$4,069
H 25.99 in W 35.44 in
The Butterfly Giver - original still life surrealism painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
Le Poeme (The Poem)
By Louis Icart
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Date: 1928 Medium: Etching and aquatint on wove paper Framed Dimensions: 28.00" x 31.50" Signature: Signed in pencil at lower right, with the artist’s blindstamp at lower left. “C...
Etching, Aquatint
$880
H 13 in W 10.25 in D 1 in
Photos In+Out City Limits: Boston (hand signed by Robert Rauschenberg) Boxed Set
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in New York, NY
Robert Rauschenberg Photos In+Out City Limits: Boston (hand signed by Robert Rauschenberg), 1981 Monograph held in slipcase (Hand signed in graphite pencil) Hand signed by Robert Rau...
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Board, Lithograph, Offset
$533
H 8.27 in W 5.52 in D 0.04 in
Les Contes Drolatiques - Rare Book Illustrated by G. Doré - 1861
By Gustave Doré
Located in Roma, IT
Les Contes Drolatiques is an original modern rare book written by Honoré de Balzac (1799 – 1850) and illustrated by Gustave Doré (Strasbourg, 1832 – 23 January 1883) in 1861. Publis...
Paper, Etching
25 Exhibition Louis Vuitton Foundation Poster
By David Hockney
Located in London, GB
Set of 3 original posters from the 2025 exhibition at Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris 2025 Offset lithograph 70 x 50 cm each David Hockney (born 1937) is one of the most influentia...
Lithograph, Offset
$1,340
H 12 in W 9 in
Gagosian Exhibition Catalogue: Jonas Wood Paintings, Signed & Inscribed to Jane
By Jonas Wood
Located in New York, NY
Jonas Wood Paintings (Hand Signed & Inscribed), 2019 Gagosian catalogue monograph, hand signed, dated and inscribed to Jane Hand signed, dated and inscribed by Jonas Wood to Jane...
Mixed Media, Permanent Marker, Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 9.73 in W 7.56 in D 0.4 in
Le Mystère Laic - Rare Book Illustrated by Giorgio De Chirico - 1928
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
Le Mystère Laic is an original modern rare book engraved by Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978) and written by Jean Cocteau (Maisons-Laffitte, 1889 – Milly-la-Forêt,1963) in 1928. Published by Editions des Quatre Chemins, Paris. Original Edition. Format: in 8°. 2875 numbered copies. The book includes Five Full page reproduction drawings. Mint conditions. Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978). The widely renowned precursor of Surrealism was the Italian painter Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978). De Chirico’s definitely ambiguous artworks of cityscapes are the most celebrated examples of a movement called Pittura Metafisica, or Metaphysical Painting. Moving back to Italy after studying in Munich, de Chirico found unseen reality revealed through odd juxtapositions, such as those seen on late autumn afternoons, when the long shadows of the sunset converted vast open squares and silent public monuments into what the painter called “metaphysical towns”. The choice of the term metaphysical to define de Chirico’s canvases implies that these images transcend their physical manifestations. The sense of bizarreness de Chirico evokes with familiar objects and scenes recalls Nietzsche’s “foreboding that underneath this reality in which we live and have our being, another and altogether different reality lies concealed”. Reproductions of De Chirico’s artworks were included in periodicals almost as soon as he did them, and his paintings rapidly influenced artists outside Italy, including both the Dadaists and the Surrealists. The inconsistencies in his work fascinated the Dadaists, whereas the strange mood and unrealistic quality of his artworks enthused and inspired Surrealist artists who wanted to represent the world of dreams. Jean Cocteau (Maisons-Laffitte, 1889 – Milly-la-Forêt,1963). Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was one of the most famous French writer, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. The novel Les Enfants Terribles (1929) and the films Blood of a Poet (1930), Les Parents Terribles (1948), Beauty and the Beast (1946) and Orpheus (1949) are his most appreciated works. His circle of friends, lovers and colleagues included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Yul Brynner, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, Albert Gleizes, Igor Stravinsky, Marie Laurencin, María Félix, Édith Piaf, Panama Al Brown...
Paper, Etching
Il Travatore
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Milford, NH
A fine polished bronze figural sculpture by Greek / Italian artist Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978). De Chirico was born from Italian parents in Volos, Greece, and when his father died...
Bronze
Sold
H 4.14 in W 5.91 in D 0.08 in
Autograph Postcard Signed by Giorgio de Chirico - 1938
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Roma, IT
Greetings Autograph postcard signed by de Chirico to the Countess and patron of arts, Anna Laetitia Pecci- Blunt. Paris, January 29th 1938. With stamps and postmarks .In Italian. In...
Paper, Ink