Guillaume Apollinaire

Date of Birth: August 26, 1880

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: November 9, 1918

Biography

Guillaume Apollinaire, born Wilhelm Albert Włodzimierz Apolinary de Wąż-Kostrowicki, was a seminal French poet, playwright, and art critic of Polish descent. He was born on August 26, 1880, in Rome, Italy, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential literary figures of the early 20th century. Apollinaire is best known for his innovative approach to poetry, his contributions to the Surrealist movement, and his role in shaping modernist literature. Apollinaire’s early life was marked by frequent relocations due to his mother’s financial difficulties. He settled in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century, where he became an integral part of the avant-garde community. He formed close friendships with notable artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, and Marcel Duchamp. During World War I, Apollinaire served in the French army and sustained a head injury that would later contribute to his untimely death. Despite his injuries, he continued to write prolifically, producing works that have left a lasting legacy in the world of literature. Some of his most famous works include “Alcools” (1913) and “Calligrammes” (1918). Guillaume Apollinaire passed away on November 9, 1918, due to the Spanish flu, just days before the end of World War I. His work continues to be celebrated for its innovation, emotional depth, and its profound influence on contemporary literature and art.

5 Interesting Facts about Guillaume Apollinaire

1. Apollinaire coined the term “Surrealism” and played a significant role in the early Surrealist movement.

2. He was arrested in 1911 under suspicion of having stolen the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, although he was later released.

3. Apollinaire wrote the first Surrealist play, “Les Mamelles de Tirésias,” which was later adapted into an opera by Francis Poulenc.

4. He was an early advocate of Cubism and wrote extensively in support of artists like Picasso and Braque.

5. Apollinaire’s poetry often utilized innovative typographic layouts, such as in his collection “Calligrammes,” where the text forms visual images.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Guillaume Apollinaire

1. “Without poets, without artists, men would soon weary of nature’s monotony.”

2. “I am tired of being a man. I want to be a horse, a bird, or a tree.”

3. “When man wanted to make a machine that would walk he created the wheel, which does not resemble a leg.”

4. “To insist on purity is to baptize instinct, to humanize art, and to deify personality.”

5. “It is high time that literature has entered into life.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Guillaume Apollinaire’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but like many artists of his time, he did not achieve significant financial wealth during his lifetime.