De Chirico's Metaphysical Art and Nietzschean Philosophy

Giorgio de Chirico, born in Volos in 1888 and passing away in Rome in 1978, is recognized as the pioneer of Metaphysical painting and openly acknowledged his influence from Friedrich Nietzsche. In a self-portrait created in 1911, he wrote, "Et quid amabo nisi quod aenigma est?" which translates to "What should I love, if not the enigma of things?" This statement underscores his interest in the mysteries of reality. He dismissed conventional metaphysics in favor of an immanent perspective. The portrait depicts him at a window with eyes devoid of pupils, symbolizing a lack of perception of the material world and an insight into the inner self. De Chirico felt a profound connection to Nietzsche, sharing an appreciation for classical culture and the figure of Ariadne associated with Dionysus, blending Apollonian and Dionysian elements in his spatial imagery, thus making subjective psychic space the focus of metaphysical art.