Gare Montparnasse (The Melancholy of Departure)

''Gare Montparnasse (The Melancholy of Departure)'' (Italian: ''La stazione di Montparnasse)'' (1914) is a painting by the Italian metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico. Many of de Chirico's works were inspired by the introspective feelings evoked by travel. He was born in Greece to Italian parents. This work was painted during a period when he lived in Paris.

The painting depicts the Gare Montparnasse railway station in Paris, France. It is a classic example of de Chirico's style, depicting an angular perspective on an outdoor architectural setting in the long shadows and deep colours of early evening. On the horizon is a steam train with a plume of white smoke billowing away from it. The train image appears several times in de Chirico's work. In the foreground is a bunch of bananas, another recurring image in de Chirico's work (cf. ''Le Rêve Transformé'').

In 1916, de Chirico painted another work simply titled ''The Melancholy of Departure''.

Sources

Museum of Modern Art

Paintings by Giorgio de Chirico
1914 paintings
Paintings in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (New York City)
Trains in art

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