Dimensions: object: 578 x 236 x 218 mm, 13 kg
Copyright: © The Estate of Alberto Giacometti (Fondation Giacometti, Paris and ADAGP, Paris), licensed in the UK by ACS and DACS, London 2014 | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Before us stands Alberto Giacometti's "Annette IV," a bronze bust located here at the Tate Modern. Editor: My first impression is of fragility. The rough texture and elongated neck give it a sense of vulnerability. Curator: Note how Giacometti employs distortion and elongation. The spatial relationships within the sculpture itself are interrupted. Editor: Absolutely, and the materiality speaks to that brokenness. You see the artist's hand so clearly, the labor of sculpting. Curator: It also engages existential themes, wouldn’t you agree? The work evokes alienation and the search for meaning. Editor: Perhaps, but I see it as more about the artist's process, the physical act of shaping bronze. A dialogue with the material. Curator: A fascinating interpretation. It's remarkable how Giacometti's form enables such diverse readings. Editor: Indeed, it offers us a glimpse into both the making and the meaning.
Comments
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/giacometti-annette-iv-t00778
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
This work is one of eight busts that Giacometti made of his wife Annette between 1962 and 1965. Although Annette was one of his most frequent sitters, Giacometti approached her anew each time she posed. The artist worked heavily on the surfaces of the sculptures. He commented that ‘after three days of working she doesn’t resemble herself anymore’. Gallery label, March 2025
CollectMore like this
