ABSTRACT
For many viewers the art of Alberto Giacometti symbolizes the existential anguish of the Second World War and the modern era which followed in its wake. In their quivering slenderness his characteristic standing figures evoke the predicament of mankind in the nuclear age—life at the vulnerable edge of nothingness. These sensitive and elegantly worked figures convey both the fragility and resilience of the human race. Though battered, they endure erect and undefeated. Giacometti’s ability to capture the contemporary dilemma through these great figurative pieces commanded the attention of public and critics alike. He achieved great renown during his own lifetime and lived to see both his figurative work and his earlier Surrealist sculptures enshrined in art history. His complete integrity and unswerving devotion to his work also made him a model for many younger contemporary artists.
