Giorgio de CHIRICO castigates modern art and supports PICASSO.

Giorgio de CHIRICO (1888.1978)

Autograph letter signed to the publisher Henri Parisot.

Two pages in-12° on an Italian map.

Piazza di Spagna 31. Rome. October 20, 1947.

“The only ones who have talent are Picasso and Derain. Everything else is a bluff.  »

Great letter from the Italian painter testifying to his dedication to his art: “ I work a lot and I continue to progress in the very difficult art of painting. » and delivering to his publisher friend his harshest criticisms on the decadence of modern art : “I also continue to fight with all my strength against the immorality of so-called “modern art”” and on the surrealists: “ What are these idiot surrealists doing? They're not dead yet? »

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“Dear friend, I received your kind letter. You have been misinformed because no album of my works has been published in Italy. How are you ? How is your wife and child? Give me your news and news of your literary activity. As always, I work a lot and I continue to progress in the very difficult art of painting.

I also continue to fight with all my strength against the immorality of the so-called “modern art” which has its center in Paris and which has only one goal: to deceive one's neighbor in order to pocket money.

I note with sadness that Paris, from an artistic point of view, is more in decadence than ever ; all foreigners, even the most naive, notice this. It's sad to see a country which has had so many heroes of painting, now resorting to the most grotesque means of advertising to still inflate balloons called Matisse, Braque, etc. ; and which deflate visibly. The only ones who have talent are Picasso and Derain. Everything else is a bluff.

My wife [Isabella Far] has proven to be a great writer; We wrote a book together called Commedia dell'Arte Moderna , and which set things on fire here. Why don't you publish some extracts from this book? It would also set Paris on fire. Believe me your very devoted G. d Chirico. What are these idiot surrealists doing? They're not dead yet? »