Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978) - Arciere con cavallo

Main features of the work:
• Giorgio De Chirico (1888–1978) • “Archer with Horse,” 1972 • Soft-ground etching and four-color aquatint • Etching 41.5×31.5 cm, sheet 70×50 cm, 82×63 cm with frame • Hand-numbered in pencil lower left XXIV/XXX • Hand-signed in pencil lower right • Dry stamp of the Artist and dry stamp Alberto Caprini Stampatore in Roma • Provenance: private Italian collection
Work belonging to the Metaphysical movement

Work published in “Giorgio De Chirico. Catalogo dell’opera grafica 1969–1977,” edited by Edoardo Brandani, Edizioni Bora, Bologna, 1990, p. 37, repertoire no. 24.

“Archer with Horse” is a splendid etching from 1972, built around one of the most recognizable subjects of De Chirico’s imaginary: the horse, the mythic figure, the suspended landscape. The scene has great visual impact: the nude archer, the frontal horse, and the mountains in the background create an intense and elegant image, in which the classical theme carries with it a sense of strangeness and mystery typical of De Chirico’s metaphysical world.

This print is particularly valuable because it is not a simple lithograph, but a work realized with the rare and refined technique of soft-ground varnish and four-color aquatint, a combination of great quality in original graphic art. The soft-ground varnish conveys the softness and fluidity of a charcoal drawing, while the aquatint allows for vibrant backgrounds, delicate tonal transitions, and subtle nuances that give the scene more air, depth, and suggestion.

Giorgio De Chirico’s graphic activity represents a fundamental chapter of his production. The seventies etchings, like this one, offer collectors direct access to the artist’s metaphysical language, with images of strong suggestion and excellent execution quality.

The edition is numbered XXIV/XXX in pencil lower left, signed in pencil lower right, and accompanied by the two dry stamps: the Artist’s stamp and Alberto Caprini Stampatore in Roma. The work is published in the Catalogo dell’Opera Grafica 1969–1977, edited by Edoardo Brandani, Edizioni Bora, Bologna, 1990, p. 37, rep. 24.

The numerous publications confirm the strong critical recognition and the presence of the work in important catalogs and exhibitions.
Bibliography cited: L. Piccioni – A. Jouffroy, Messina, 1980; D. Guzzi, Tivoli, 1984; C. Sinisgallo, ed., Villongo, 1984; M. Fagiolo dell’Arco, Bologna, 1984; M. Calvesi – M. Fagiolo – F. Quarantotto, Caserta, 1985; M. Fagiolo – G. dalla Chiesa, Ferrara, 1985.

Giorgio De Chirico, born in Volos in 1888 and died in Rome in 1978, is the great master of Metaphysical painting. His silent squares, statues, horses, and mythological marine landscapes have profoundly marked 20th-century art; alongside these motifs, his self-portraits and metaphysical figures reflect a constant search for identity and memory, becoming symbols of the enigmatic condition of modern man.

Note: Total edition of 95 copies numbered in Arabic numerals, 30 copies numbered in Roman numerals, 21 copies signed by letters A to Z, and 10 Artist’s proofs.

The buyer will receive the work in careful and sturdy packaging. Very fast shipping.