Guillaume Apollinaire was born Wilhelm Albert Wlodzimierz Apolinary Kostrowicki on August 26, 1880, in Rome, Italy. He was the illegitimate child of a Polish noblewoman, and the identity of his father remains a mystery. Apollinaire spent his childhood in Italy before moving to France during his teenage years. It was in France that he adopted the name Guillaume Apollinaire.
Apollinaire quickly immersed himself in the artistic scene in Paris, where he became friends with the renowned painter Pablo Picasso. He began writing poetry and soon became associated with the surrealist movement. His innovative use of language and form in his works garnered him attention in artistic circles.
Apollinaire is best known for his collection of poems, Calligrammes, which featured visually stunning poems that were arranged on the page to create shapes and images. His play, Les Mamelles de Tiresias, was one of the first works in the surrealist genre and showcased his talent for blending the absurd with social commentary.
In addition to his poetry and plays, Apollinaire also wrote short stories, with Les Epingles being one of his most famous works in this genre.
One of Apollinaire's most significant contributions to the surrealist movement was his invention of the term "surrealism." His play, The Breasts of Tiresias, which was written in 1917, is considered a seminal work in the surrealist genre.
Guillaume Apollinaire's impact on the literary and artistic world cannot be overstated. His innovative use of language and form paved the way for future generations of writers and artists to experiment with new ways of expression. Despite his premature death in 1918 due to the Spanish flu pandemic, his legacy lives on through his timeless works.