Over the decades, Alberto Giacometti’s figures became thinner, taller and more fragile as he repeatedly cut away material in pursuit of something beyond realism — trying to capture not the body itself, but the sensation of seeing another human being in space. The result was one of the most recognizable sculptural languages in modern art: elongated figures that feel isolated, vulnerable and profoundly alive.
Works from the Wingate Collection reveal the full depth of Alberto Giacometti’s obsession with perception and human existence, from the enigmatic La Clairière (“The Clearing”) to his psychologically charged portraits of his brother Diego Giacometti. While Alberto pursued the elemental essence of the figure, Diego developed a sculptural world filled with animals, furniture and poetic everyday objects. Together, the brothers forged one of the most important artistic partnerships of the 20th century.
Alberto and Diego Giacometti’s sculptures will both be on offer as part of A New Vista: The David and Shoshanna Wingate Collection, as well as The Modern Evening Auction, presented by CELINE, taking place 19 May at the historic Breuer building in New York.
