The brain of a child

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Location: The National Museum of Sweden (Stockholm, Sweden).

The artist depicted people mainly in the form of ghostly figures in the background, or in the form of soulless mannequins and statues. The work “The brain of a child” is unique not only because it depicts a man in close-up, but also because this person experiences his desires and emotions, while typical characters of de Chirico are indifferent. The nature of human feelings on the canvas is not clear, as well as the reason why he stands with his eyes closed in front of a book lying on the table. In this painting, critics see echoes of Freud’s famous theory and signs of hidden sexuality, although the author himself did not confirm such an influence.