Alberto Giacometti was a painter, printmaker and furniture designer but he is best known as one of the 20th century’s most important sculptors. He is revered for the elongated, slender human figures he created in the years following World War II that reflected existentialism and the trauma associated with the conflict.
Giacometti was born in Borgonovo, Switzerland, in 1901 to a creative family. His father Giovanni was a Post-Impressionist painter, his godfather Cuno Amiet was a Fauvist painter, his brother Bruno was an architect, and his other brother Diego was an artist and furniture designer who also served as Giacometti’s model. (The sculptor worked chiefly with models plucked from his personal life.)
Beginning in 1922, Giacometti studied at the Académie de la Grande-Chaumière in Paris and was influenced by the Cubist work of Alexander Archipenko, Raymond Duchamp-Villon and the post-Cubist sculptures of Jacques Lipchitz and Henri Laurens.
During the 1930s, Giacometti designed furniture such as lamps, vases and wall décor to earn a living, often collaborating with interior designer Jean-Michel Frank, whose interiors tastefully mixed extravagance with sophisticated simplicity. However, Giacometti’s passion lay in creating sculptures.
Alberto and his brother Diego left Paris in 1940 to escape the Nazi invasion and spent time in the South of France before fleeing to Geneva, remaining there until 1946. In 1947, Giacometti began work on his most famous sculptures — very tall and thin figurines that came to be associated with frailty and loneliness.
Giacometti catapulted to fame in the United States following two exhibitions of his sculptures in 1948 and 1950 at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York City — Jean-Paul Sartre authored the catalogue essay for the latter. In 1961, Giacometti’s friend, Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, asked him to design the set for a re-staging of his play “Waiting for Godot.” His response took on the form of a single plaster tree.
In 1962, Giacometti won the grand prize for sculpture at the Venice Biennale, and for much of the rest of his career, he created modern paintings, drawings and sculptures of plaster, clay and bronze in his small Paris studio. He died in 1966.
Giacometti’s works continue to enthrall collectors. In 2010, his life-size bronze sculpture L'Homme qui marche (“the man who walks”), which now adorns the 100 Swiss Franc banknote, became one of the most expensive sculptures to be sold at auction.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Alberto Giacometti wall decorations, prints and sculptures.
Versace Fall Winter 2003 Ruched Asymmetric Dress
By Alberto Giacometti, Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
A beautiful example of early 2000s Versace under Donatella, this black bodycon dress from the Fall Winter 2003 collection is crafted in a highly stretchy fabric that molds elegantly ...
Vintage Lillie Rubin 1990s Amazing Fully Beaded Sequined Pearl Silk Fringe Dress
By Lillie Rubin
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing vintage early 90s LILLIE RUBIN black beaded, sequined, and pearled silk cocktail flapper dress! Heavily hand beaded black seed beads throughout the skirt. Gold and silver sequins and beads hand-sewn onto the bodice in a tromp o...
Chic 1980s Size 12 Strapless Pearl Encrusted Black and White Pouf Vintage Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic vintage 80s black and white pearl encrusted Size 12 strapless embroidered party pouf dress! Features a fitted boned black bodice with white embroidery and hand-sewn pearls throu...
Vintage Linz Line Black Cocktail /Dinner Dress
Located in London, GB
A chic vintage cocktail/ dinner dress by Linz Line. The dress has a scalloped off the shoulder neckline and is fully lined. There is gatherin...
Gai Mattiolo 1990s Sexy Semi Sheer Leopard Brown Metallic Vintage 90s Dress
By Gai Mattiolo
Located in San Diego, CA
Sexy late 90s GAI MATTIOLO vintage semi sheer leopard print brown semi sheer sleeveless dress! Features intricate embroidery on the bodice, which covers the breasts. Gold, silver and...
Late 1970s Bob Mackie Rare Sequin + Ribbons Vintage 70s Strapless Silk Dress
By Bob Mackie
Located in San Diego, CA
Fantastic rare late 1970s BOB MACKIE black silk strapless cocktail dress! Features hundreds of hand-sewn sequins throughout the front and back bodice...
Balmain Haute Couture dress by Oscar de la Renta Fall-Winter 1997
By Oscar De La Renta, Balmain
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
BALMAIN - Haute Couture Fall-Winter 1997 collection under the artistic direction of Oscar de la Renta. Dress in silk crepe and transparent black lace. No size indicated, it fits a 40...
1990s Bob Mackie Black Cut Out Beaded Gown
By Bob Mackie
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Bob Mackie gown from the 1990s features a sleeveless black column cut and a V-neckline. Sheer mesh panels adorned with black beadwork fill angular cutouts on either side of the ...
$1,799Sale Price|40% Off
Size: 38
UNWORN Dolce & Gabbana Bodycon Corset Lace Dress Special Edition Collection 38
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in Switzerland, CH
Amazing Dolce & Gabbana Bodycon Corset Dress. For a sensational silhouette Black stretch fabric, satin and lace details Straps are adjustable Hook-fastening details in front A ti...
S/S 1999 Thierry Mugler Black & White Sculptural Panel Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Concord, NC
Spring Summer 1999 Thierry Mugler black evening dress featuring a sharply tailored silhouette. This striking dress features contrasting white curved paneling that sweeps dramatically...
Tom Ford for Gucci FW 2002 Runway Black Silk Lace-Up Gown + Mink Stole It. 38
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Montgomery, TX
Vintage Tom Ford for Gucci Black Silk Lace-Up Gown + Mink Stole Italian size - 38 ( can fit bigger sizes also ) F/W 2002 Runway Collection Black silk, Bias cut, Slip-on style. Backless to the waist with lacing down the entire length of the back of the skirt over a matching satin insert that extends into a train. The lacing can be tightened all the way down to the hem for a thin train, tightened part way down to create a fishtail or left loose for a wider train (and more room in the hips). Black mink stole...
Lorena Sarbu Black & White Warped Floral Silk Halter Neck Gown, 2000s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking Lorena Sarbu gown from the designer's archive dating to the late 2000's. Sarbu is famed for her beautiful Red Carpet gowns, and this is no exception. The gown is composed ...
Emilio Pucci Sequin & Bead Embellished Mini Dress
By Emilio Pucci
Located in London, GB
Brand New - Emilio Pucci Sequin & Bead Embellished Mini Dress Multicoloured dress fully encrusted with sparkling sequins and beads with black upper section transitioning into a ...