Due to technical necessities, some of Giacometti's larger plasters had to be divided into several parts before they could be made into bronze castings at the foundry. In order to preserve the original substance of the plasters, the respective works owned by the Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung are usually not reassembled permanently.

ʻFemme deboutʼ was created by casting the initial clay model using a two-part negative plaster mould (lost mould). The clay figure was modelled directly on an iron armature, which was embedded in a plaster base that Giacometti had already prepared. The current base was created by casting the original plaster base using a multi-part negative plaster mould (plaster piece-mould). Subsequently, Giacometti slightly reworked the surface of the figure and base by adding and removing plaster; the artist also scratched his signature ‘Alberto Giacometti’ onto the right side of the base.

From 1949/50, the plaster served as a template for bronze casts. Initially using sand casting, later using lost wax casting. In the foundry, the work was cut through at the thighs and coated with yellow-brown sealant and release agent prior to the making of the gelatine mould.

Material

Plaster, coated with sealant and release agent

Dimensions

119.5 x 21.8 x 29.5 cm

Creditline

Kunsthaus Zürich, Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung, Donated by Bruno and Odette Giacometti, 2006

Object number

GS 348

Signature

inscr. on base at right: Alberto Giacometti

Provenance

• Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft | Kunsthaus Zürich, ab 2006, Leihgabe
• Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung (Sammlung), 2006, Geschenk
• Bruno und Odette Giacometti, Nachlass
• Alberto Giacometti