Giacometti carved this small wooden figure while walking in the mountains along with the ‘Figurine’ (see GS 247), both of which he gave to a cousin. The slender branch gave him the inspiration for the extremely exaggerated length which, in the larger figure, is rendered even more dynamic by the flame-like crown. Here we can already see evidence of the characteristic mature style of 1947 onwards.

Apart from a bust of Rita (Fondation Giacometti, Paris), these are Giacometti’s only preserved forays into woodcarving, created when he returned to figuration after his Surrealist period in around 1935–1937.

Material

Wood

Dimensions

14 cm (height)

Creditline

Kunsthaus Zürich, Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung, Donated in memory of Margrit Bühler-Gredig, 2002

Object number

GS 248

Provenance