Diego 1958

Alberto Giacometti made this compelling portrait, Diego, with oil on canvas. The painting's material quality profoundly influences its appearance. Giacometti applied thin layers of paint, allowing the texture of the canvas to remain visible. This imbues the work with a sense of depth and roughness, and the dripped paint at the bottom edge of the canvas speaks to the artist's process, revealing the physical act of painting. The muted tones and visible brushstrokes further emphasize the artist's hand, bridging traditional fine art with a kind of direct, almost crude, materiality. Looking closely, you'll notice how Giacometti built up the image through numerous layers, scraping back and reworking areas. This labor-intensive approach is not just about depicting a likeness; it's about the process of seeing and representing. The artist has imbued the work with the evidence of time and effort, and the painting becomes a record of a sustained encounter between artist and sitter. Considering this materiality and making allows us to appreciate how Giacometti challenges traditional distinctions between art and craft.