Chirico, << KEY rih koh, >> Giorgio de (1888-1978), was an Italian painter. He did his most significant work between 1910 and 1920. Most of his paintings during this period show a vast city square in bright afternoon light. The square is empty except for a statue, or one or two lonely human figures. Chirico created a puzzling or even menacing atmosphere by combining the emptiness of the square with irregular perspectives, brilliant light, and long shadows. His scenes resemble the paintings of the surrealists, whom he influenced during the 1920’s. But Chirico was not an active participant in that movement.
Chirico was born on July 10, 1888, in Volos, Greece. He studied art in Munich, Germany, for three years before moving to Italy in 1910. In the 1920’s, he began painting in a more traditional style and disclaimed his earlier work. Chirico died on Nov. 20, 1978.
