“The Enigma of the Hour,” created by Giorgio de Chirico in 1911 in Paris, France, is an oil painting on canvas that belongs to the Metaphysical art movement. The artwork, classified within the genre of cityscape, currently resides in a private collection.
This painting portrays a contemplative and somewhat enigmatic urban scene. Dominating the composition is an austere architectural structure with a row of five arched openings, rendered in a muted palette. Above the arches is a rectangular segment of the building featuring a clock prominently displayed at its center, its hands pointing to a specific yet mysterious time. The sky above the edifice is filled with a serene blue-green hue, which offsets the stark, shadowy spaces below. In the foreground, an androgynous figure in white stands near a dark rectangular pool, adding to the sense of spatial depth and contributing to the enigmatic atmosphere. The overall setting is imbued with a sense of mystery and stillness, characteristic of de Chirico’s metaphysical style, evoking questions about time, existence, and place.
