Alberto Giacometti, a talented sculptor whose works have left their mark on several generations

Alberto Giacometti is an artist recognized for his talent in sculpture , but also drawing and paint figurative, even if it remains better known as’ sculptor artist. He’s a man who left his mark his time thanks to its own unique style him and from whom many artists were subsequently inspired. He is one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. Throughout his career, Giacometti has tried his hand at different styles up to find the one who made him known throughout the world.

His life

Born on October 10, 1901 at Borgonovo in Switzerland, Alberto Giacometti is the son of a post-impressionist painter. He has two little brothers (Diego and Bruno) as well as a little sister (Ottilia). It was his father who introduced him to the arts. l’ art with which he quickly fell in love. Alberto begins to He began painting in 1913, drawing inspiration from his father's style, and produced his very first painting in Paris. oil. His first works, when he was 12 years old, were portraits of certain members of his family. In 1914, he turned to sculpture by creating the faces of his two little brothers in clay. model.

Until 1919, Alberto Giacometti followed classical studies then decided to leave everything to study at the Ecole des beaux-arts of Geneva as well as at the ’ the School of Arts and Crafts to devote himself to art and the sculpture. At this time, he was sure of himself, he wanted to become an artist and, more precisely, a sculptor. His artistic soul will be nourished thanks to the numerous encounters he will make during his various trips to France. Rome, in Florence or even in Venice. It is all these destinations and above all, the encounters made during these trips, which really gave him the taste and desire to become an artist sculptor.

Although very attached to his hometown, he moved to Paris in 1922 to continue his art studies. At the same time, he forms a friendship with each other. with several other artists of the same age as him and created several sculptures, some in plaster and others cast in bronze. Just three years after his arrival at In Paris, some of his works are exhibited at the Salon des Tuileries. His style, This period was strongly inspired by Cubism.

A few years later, Giacometti changed his style and turned to surrealism; from there that he finally knows success. Among his group of friends, we find Jean Cocteau, Jacques Prévert and even Louis Aragon. In a short time, the artist participated in numerous exhibitions where some of his sculptures are on display. In 1933, a terrible event had a profound impact on him: the death of his father in 1933. to whom he paid tribute with an exhibition a year later.

In 1943, he met Annette Arm who became his wife in 1949. She served as his model for a certain number of works. This change in his life pushed him towards a new style as a sculptor. From then on, Giacometti created long, thin sculptures approximately one meter high. It is precisely this very characteristic style that will make him known to the general public. Despite life's obstacles (road accident, recovery from stomach cancer), Giacometti continued to overcome the obstacles of life (road accident, recovery from stomach cancer). his career as a sculptor, again and again, until his death in 1966 from pericarditis caused by chronic bronchitis.

His most popular works

Throughout his life, this talented sculptor created works of art. many major works which made him known throughout the world. Some of these works have simply left their mark. their time while others, are still very popular today. Among his best-known works, we find:

• The Spoon Woman

It was in 1927, when he had just arrived in Paris. Paris, let Giacometti create this work inspired by the African art which he particularly likes. It was during his cubism period that the artist creates the Spoon Woman.

• Unpleasant Object

Unpleasant Object has been removed. designed in 1931, when the The artist is in his surrealist period. This creation was Made of plaster, but in 1961 it was cast in bronze.

• The man with the finger

This is certainly one of the best-known creations of this artist. Made in 1947, this filiform sculpture sold for $141 million at an auction. This bronze work was created by the artist. painted with the hand.

• The walking man

The Walking Man is one of the sculptor's greatest successes. This creation represents a man with a long life. a slender silhouette with oversized feet fixed on a large base. This work was made in 1960.

His influences

At the start of his career, Giacometti's main influence was his father who introduced him to the world of art. art. During his younger years, he was very interested in music. l’ traditional African art and agrave; Ancient Greece. L’ sculptor artist has passed through by several styles until’really find « his way ». Giacometti first had his cubism then surrealist period. These two periods saw the birth of a certain number of works. From 1935, he changed his style again to turn towards creations representing or featuring characters. Until 1944, all his works did not measure more than seven centimeters in height, it was only later that Giacometti finally succeeded make creations of more than one meter.

His rewards

Throughout his career Alberto Giacometti received several prizes and distinctions for his works and exhibitions:

• Sculpture Prize at the International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture in 1961;
• Grand Prize for Sculpture at the Venice Biennale in 1962;
• Guggenheim International Prize for Painting in 1962;
• Honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1963;
• Honorary doctorate from the University from Bern in 1965.