TITLE:
A Ghost Image—Giorgio de Chirico’s Portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire—About a Problem with Identity in the Genre “Portrait” in the 20th Century
AUTHORS:
Gudrun Latten
KEYWORDS:
Giorgio de Chirico, Guillaume Apollinaire, Metaphysical Art, Surrealism, Portrait, Genre Portrait, Semiotics, 20th Century Art
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.8,
August
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: Many of Giorgio de Chirico’s motifs have an ambiguous identity. Academic discussions have frequently sought to establish the identity of the figures through perceived resemblances. This essay adopts a semiotic approach, as it enables a more precise differentiation between various forms of identity. With this essay, I discuss how the ambiguity of motif and picture behaves with a specific subject like Guillaume Apollinaire. I aim to emphasize the duality of the depiction and to propose an additional interpretation of the two figures in the image. In my view, the shadow represents uniqueness, while the classical bust alludes to reproducibility. The comparison to a Vera Icon sheds new light on the glorification of Apollinaire as the new prophet.