Born in Greece to Italian parents, Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978) studied in Munich from 1906 to 1909. In contact with German culture of the early 20th century, he took an interest in the philosophy of Nietzsche, Schopenhauer and Weininger and was struck by the romantic and decadent paintings of Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901) and Max Klinger (1857-1920). The memory of classical Antiquity is reflected in his compositions in the form of theatrical reconstructions.

De Chirico is one of the creators of metaphysical painting. He defines space through architectural elements that clearly appear like a theatrical scenery in perspective, empty and uninhabitable. He invents metaphysical perspective – « a geometry of the absurd, where shadows do not coincide with the theory of shadows ». The architectural backdrops do not serve to delimit space but assume the exclusive function of magical suggestions.

His metaphysical period influenced New Objectivity and German Magical Realism, the Italian Novecento and, in some ways, the Surrealists (Magritte, Tanguy, Ernst, Dali).

All of De Chirico’s typical elements are recognizable in this painting. It depicts an almost deserted square with imposing buildings that cast enormous shadows. Two characters meet at the centre of the composition in an atmosphere of strangeness, mystery and infinity. At the far end of the square we see a train station with a clock showing exactly three o’clock in the afternoon. Flags fly in the wind and a train is entering the station. The composition is governed by geometric elements arranged according to mathematical rules.

This painting is one of our most interesting recent Modern Art acquisitions.