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Alberto
Giacometti

Alberto Giacometti, a visionary in modern sculpture, is revered for his elongated, surreal figures that embody the existential anxieties of the 20th century. If you’re looking for original Alberto Giacometti prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.

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Biography

Born in 1901 in Borgonovo, Switzerland, Alberto Giacometti was surrounded by art from an early age, being the son of Impressionist painter Giovanni Giacometti. This nurturing environment led him to the École des Beaux-Arts in Geneva, and later to the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, where he honed his craft under sculptor Antoine Bourdelle. Giacometti's early work reflected a fascination with Surrealism, which led him to join the Surrealist movement in the 1930s. During this period, he explored dream-like and abstract forms, but his artistic evolution soon steered towards more figurative and existential themes.

The outbreak of World War II and the subsequent atmosphere influenced Giacometti's shift towards elongated, gaunt figures that have become his signature. His sculptures, characterised by their thinness and textured surfaces, evoke a sense of isolation and introspection, mirroring the anxieties of the era. These works, often rooted in existentialist philosophy, remain some of the most poignant representations of post-war art.


Giacometti's evolution was marked by several key periods. Initially influenced by Cubism and later by the Surrealists, whom he joined in the 1930s, his work took on a more abstract form. However, it was in the post-war period that Giacometti's style truly emerged. His sculptures became known for their raw, gaunt figures that reflect a sense of desolation yet possess a profound human connection. Notable works from this period include Walking Man I and Standing Woman, showcasing his exploration of scale, space, and form.

Throughout his career, Giacometti engaged with a number of artists and intellectuals who influenced his work, including Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. His friendship with Sartre notably deepened the existentialist themes in his art, mirroring the philosopher's views on the human experience.

Giacometti's works have been showcased in major exhibitions worldwide, and his contributions to art have been recognised with numerous accolades, including the grand prize for sculpture at the Venice Biennale in 1962. His impact on the art world is further evidenced by the record-breaking prices his works achieve at auction, with L'Homme Au Doigt selling for over $141 million in 2015.

Bronze sculpture of an extremely thin, elongated figure with one arm outstretched with pointing finger and the other bent up towards the sky behind him. The figure stands on a small platform with spindly legs and arms, exhibiting a rough, textured surface and dramatic proportions.

L'Homme Au Doigt © Alberto Giacometti 1947

1. £81.6M for Alberto Giacometti's L'Homme Au Doigt

L'Homme Au Doigt (1947), which translates as “Pointing Man,” (Pointing Man) achieved Giacometti's current auction record when it sold at Christie's New York in May 2015 - this sale also made it the most expensive sculpture ever sold. Standing at 5ft 10 inches tall, this life-sized bronze sculpture represents the pinnacle of Giacometti's post-war three-dimensional works. The work's exceptional value derives from its rarity as the only example from the edition of six that Giacometti painted by hand, and the legend that Giacometti created the sculpture in a single night to meet a deadline for an exhibition. It is, with a superhuman shape and prophetic pose, an embodiment of Giacometti’s existentialist philosophy; its pointing gesture is believed to symbolise the leading of humanity into a new world following World War II.

Tall bronze sculpture of an extremely thin, elongated figure leaning forwards in mid-stride. The figure has a rough, textured surface with long, stick-like legs and arms, creating a sense of forward movement despite its static medium.

L'Homme Qui Marche I © Alberto Giacometti 1960

2. £58.0M for Alberto Giacometti's L'Homme Qui Marche I

L'Homme Qui Marche I (1960) sold at Sotheby's London in February 2010, it set three records. It was the most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction, the most expensive Giacometti artwork ever sold, and very briefly the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction, before Picasso’s Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust (1932) sold two months later, in May 2010, for £62.3M. This 183cm bronze figure was created at the height of Giacometti’s career, in collaboration with Giacometti’s favoured foundry and the oldest foundry in France, the Susse Fondeur in Paris. It became an iconic representation of humanity’s solitary journey through existence. Its stance, mid-stride but with two feet on the ground, is somewhere between movement and stillness. The piece's impressive result reflected not only its artistic significance but also its exceptional provenance, having previously been in the collection of the Dresdner Bank in Germany. Other casts of L’Homme Qui Marche I (1960) have been housed in prestigious institutions such as Fondation Maeght, the Kröller-Müller Museum, and the Carnegie Museum of Art.

Bronze sculpture featuring a thin, vertical figure mounted on a two-wheeled cart. The large, spoked wheels contrast with the extremely slender central figure, all supported by two small wooden pedestals.

Chariot © Alberto Giacometti 1950

3. £56.3M for Alberto Giacometti's Chariot

Chariot (1950), one of six bronze casts made between 1951 and 1952, achieved this result at Sotheby's New York in November 2014. This female figure stands, fixed in place, on a precarious wheeled platform - her form is frail and vulnerable, and it is unclear if she is in motion or balanced. The composition evokes depictions of Etruscan and Egyptian chariots in ancient art, combined with the constant revolutions of modern anxiety. Its conception was heavily influenced by Giacometti’s trauma from a traffic accident, and a vision of a “sparkling pharmacy cart” that he saw while hospitalised.

Bronze sculpture featuring a cage-like rectangular frame housing a suspended, elongated head form with a dramatically protruding, needle-like nose. The end of the nose extends beyond the confines of the cage.

Le Nez © Alberto Giacometti 1949

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