‘Pointe à lʼoeil’ is arguably the most complex of Giacometti’s ‘display models’ (Reinhold Hohl) of the psychologically charged situation in which vision confronts death. Previous owners of this exceptional object, which owing to its fragility can only be shown at the Kunsthaus Zürich, include Marcel Duchamp. A version in wood was acquired by the Musée national dʼart moderne in Paris from the Tériade Collection.

Material

Plaster and metal

Dimensions

13.5 x 59.5 x 31 cm

Creditline

Kunsthaus Zürich, Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung, 1965

Object number

GS 021

Signature

inscr. on base, front edge on left: Plâtre original, right: Alberto Giacometti

Provenance

• frühestens ab 1965, Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft | Kunsthaus Zürich (Museum), Zürich, Leihgabe
• frühestens ab 1965, Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung (Sammlung), Zürich, Übernahme
• 1963 – mindestens bis 1965, Alberto Giacometti-Syndikat, Kauf
• 1963, Galerie Beyeler (Galerie), Basel, Kauf
• G. David Thompson (*1899 Newark, OH, +1965 Pittsburgh, PA) (Sammler/-in), Pittsburgh
• 1948, Privatsammlung
• Alberto Giacometti (*1901 Borgonovo bei Stampa, +1966 Chur) (Künstler/-in)