Alberto Giacometti

Date of Birth: October 10, 1901

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: January 11, 1966

Biography

Alberto Giacometti was a Swiss sculptor, painter, draftsman, and printmaker, born on October 10, 1901, in Borgonovo, Switzerland. He is best known for his elongated, slender sculptures and is considered one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. Giacometti’s work often delved into themes of existentialism and human isolation, reflecting the turbulent times in which he lived. Giacometti was born into an artistic family; his father, Giovanni Giacometti, was a well-known Post-Impressionist painter. Alberto showed an early interest in art and moved to Paris in 1922 to study under the renowned sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, who was a contemporary of Rodin. This move marked the beginning of Giacometti’s lifelong association with the avant-garde art scene in Paris. Throughout the 1930s, Giacometti was closely associated with the Surrealist movement, creating fantastical and dream-like pieces. However, he distanced himself from Surrealism in the late 1930s and began to focus on more representational forms. His signature style, characterized by thin, elongated figures, emerged during and after World War II. Giacometti’s work gained international acclaim in the 1950s and 1960s, and he was awarded several prestigious accolades, including the Grand Prize for Sculpture at the Venice Biennale in 1962. He continued to work prolifically until his death on January 11, 1966, in Chur, Switzerland.

5 Interesting Facts about Alberto Giacometti

1. Giacometti’s studio in Paris was famously tiny, measuring just 15 feet by 15 feet, yet it was the birthplace of some of his most important works.

2. He was heavily influenced by African and Oceanic art, which is evident in the stylized forms and textures of his sculptures.

3. Despite his fame, Giacometti was known for his relentless self-criticism and often destroyed his own work.

4. His sculptures were used in Samuel Beckett’s production of “Waiting for Godot,” reflecting their shared existential themes.

5. Giacometti’s sculpture “L’Homme au doigt” (“Man Pointing”) sold for $141.3 million in 2015, setting a record for the most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Alberto Giacometti

1. “The more you fail, the more you succeed. It is only when everything is lost, and instead of giving up, you go on, that you experience the moment of creative freedom.”

2. “In a burning building, I would save a cat before a Rembrandt.”

3. “All the art of the past rises up before me. I cannot help it. What was done was done, and it was always better than what is being done now.”

4. “The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.”

5. “I paint and sculpt to get a grip on reality… to protect myself.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Alberto Giacometti’s net worth was estimated to be in the range of several million dollars. His works continue to fetch extraordinarily high prices at auctions, reflecting their lasting impact and value.