Date of Birth: August 26, 1880
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Date of Death: November 9, 1918
Biography
Guillaume Apollinaire, born Wilhelm Albert Włodzimierz Apolinary Kostrowicki, was a French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic. He is considered one of the most important literary figures of the early 20th century and a key figure in the Surrealist movement. Apollinaire was born in Rome, Italy, to a Polish mother and an unknown father, which influenced his multicultural upbringing. His works are known for their bold experimentation and innovation, blending traditional forms with modernist themes. Apollinaire moved to Paris in 1900, where he became a central figure in the city’s vibrant artistic community. He was closely associated with avant-garde artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, and André Breton. His seminal works include the poetry collections “Alcools” (1913) and “Calligrammes” (1918), which introduced new forms and techniques such as calligrams and free verse. During World War I, Apollinaire enlisted in the French army and suffered a severe head wound in 1916. Despite his injury, he continued to write and influence the literary and artistic world until his untimely death in 1918 due to the Spanish flu pandemic.
5 Interesting Facts about Guillaume Apollinaire
1. Apollinaire coined the term “Surrealism” in 1917, influencing a major artistic movement.
2. He introduced the concept of calligrams, where the text of a poem forms a visual image.
3. Apollinaire was arrested and briefly imprisoned in 1911 on suspicion of stealing the Mona Lisa, although he was innocent.
4. He wrote one of the first pornographic novels, “Les Onze Mille Verges” (The Eleven Thousand Rods).
5. Apollinaire was friends with renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Guillaume Apollinaire
1. “Artists are, above all, men who want to become inhuman.”
2. “Without poets, without artists, men would soon weary of nature’s monotony.”
3. “Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them, and they flew.”
4. “The desire to survive and the fear of death are artistic sentiments.”
5. “I am quite simply a ‘pataphysician.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Guillaume Apollinaire’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but he lived a modest life with limited financial success during his lifetime.
Children
Guillaume Apollinaire did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Guillaume Apollinaire – Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_Apollinaire
3. [Poems by Guillaume Apollinaire](https://www.poemhunter.com/guillaume-apollinaire/
4. [Guillaume Apollinaire – Art Critic](https://www.theartstory.org/critic/apollinaire-guillaume/
