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Alberto Giacometti dans son atelier

Photograph
1965 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hungarian born Brassaï moved from Berlin to Paris in 1924, where he remained for the rest of his life. There, he became acquainted with many artists of the day, including Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Henri Matisse. Brassaï is most well known for his images of Parisian life, depicting brothels, prostitutes, city streets, architecture and high society alike. However, he also photographed his artist friends, often in their studios or with their work. Here, Italian sculptor Alberto Giacometti is seated in his studio surrounded by sculptures. Draped, unfinished artwork can be seen alongside completed work, as Giacometti sits in the foreground by his sculptors' tools. These images provide a rare insight into the habits and practice of these twentieth century masters, whose doors were not always open to this kind of personal documentation.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAlberto Giacometti dans son atelier (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin silver print
Brief description
Photograph by Brassai, 'Alberto Giacometti dans son atelier' [Alberto Giacometti in his studio], Rue Hippolyte Maindron, Paris, 1965, gelatin silver print
Physical description
Black and white photograph depicting a man wearing a tweed jacket seated in the foreground of the image. Behind him, there are a number of sculptures, both finished and unfinished, on tables. Closest to him, there is a seemingly unfinished bust sculpture draped in cloth, on a table of its own next to some sculptors' tools. Further in the background, there are five busts (uncovered) on one larger wooden table. There is another draped sculpture behind him to the right of the image.
Dimensions
  • Image width: 21.4cm
  • Paper width: 23.2cm
  • Image height: 28cm
  • Paper height: 29.9cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Bottom right, artist's signature in black ink Verso: Top centre, pencil: '21.5x28' Top right, pencil: 'Tout 86' Bottom centre, pencil: 'Alberto Giacometti dans son atelier / rue H. Maindron 14e Paris en 1965 / Buste de Diego a l'arrière - Hau' Bottom left, stamped in black ink: 'BRASSAÏ POR.23-41 / 81, Fg St-Jacques. PARIS -14e' Bottom left, stamped in black ink: 'TIRAGE DE L'AUTEUR' Bottom right, pencil: 'O No.29' Bottom right, pencil: 'No.25.A.23Y.Z+12' Bottom right, stamped in black ink [faded]: 'SUCCESSION / BRASSAÏ / ESTATE'
Translation
Alberto Giacometti in his studio, Rue H. Maindron 14th district Paris in 1965. Bust of Diego in the background. [Alberto Giacometti dans son atelier rue H Maindron 14e Paris en 1965. Buste de Diego a l'arrière] Print of the artist [tirage de l'auteur]
Credit line
Bequest of Gilberte Boyer Brassaï
Object history
This object came to the museum as part of a bequest of 99 photographs by Brassaï from his widow, Madame Gilberte Boyer.
Subjects depicted
Places depicted
Summary
Hungarian born Brassaï moved from Berlin to Paris in 1924, where he remained for the rest of his life. There, he became acquainted with many artists of the day, including Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Henri Matisse. Brassaï is most well known for his images of Parisian life, depicting brothels, prostitutes, city streets, architecture and high society alike. However, he also photographed his artist friends, often in their studios or with their work. Here, Italian sculptor Alberto Giacometti is seated in his studio surrounded by sculptures. Draped, unfinished artwork can be seen alongside completed work, as Giacometti sits in the foreground by his sculptors' tools. These images provide a rare insight into the habits and practice of these twentieth century masters, whose doors were not always open to this kind of personal documentation.
Collection
Accession number
E.895-2014

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Record createdApril 15, 2015
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