Portrait of Elvezia Michel-Baldini (Nee Stampa)

Alberto Giacometti 1901 - 1966

Summary

A narrow, elongated, full-length portrait executed in a rapid, linear style. A woman is seated in a bare room, directly facing the viewer with a door behind her. The colours are muted pinks, greys and blacks.

Display Label

Seated Woman 1949 Alberto Giacometti 1901-1966 Oil on canvas Swiss-born Giacometti lived most of his life in Paris where he was famous for his sculptures of elongated figures. In the 1940s he began to paint regularly making near monochrome works, which are more like drawings with paint. The artist worked at his images over and over again Each time he looked away from his subject his perception had changed when he looked back. The dense net of lines which resulted gives the sense that the figure is trapped. In 1986 the artist's son, Bruno, identified the sitter. She was Elevezia Michel-Baldini. The Gallery acquired the work as 'The Artist's Mother'. Presented by the Contemporary Art Society 1952.277