Artist: Alberto Giacometti (1901 – 1966)
Rue Hippolyte Maindron. Alberto GIACOMETTI, Swiss painter & sculptor, at his studio.
I am drawn to Swiss Sculptor Alberto Giacometti’s 20th century figurative sculptures because their over-exaggerated (some small, some life-size) bodies display a strange and wiry thinness. Modelled first in clay his lean bronze human and animal bodies are sinuous and lightweight. This appeals to me, as I like the incongruity of heavy, solid sculptures (especially bronze) contrasting with light-as-a-feather weightlessness.
These portraits are inspiring for me as they show character and emotion. I hope I can breathe life into my portrait clay head, perhaps with… Ã la Giacometti influence.
Peter Lindbergh, Alberto Giacometti. BUSTE DE DIEGO (VERS 1964-1965), Zurich, 2016, 2016 
Peter Lindbergh, Alberto Giacometti.
Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, Gift of Seymour H. Knox, Jr., 1961 © Estate of Alberto Giacometti/SOCAN (2019)
Even though Giacometti’s sculptured hand-work is rough and thickly textured, and covers the whole surface of the sculpture, his overall shapes are elegant and beautiful. Some figures stand still, feet together, and some are animated by walking in half-paced strides, and all reveal an emotive body language. In particular, I like the downcast sad movement, and thin bone structure of The Dog (Le Chien) statue.
Le Chien (1951) 
Le Chat (1951)
Head of a Woman (Flora Mayo) (Tête de femme [Flora Mayo]), 1926.
Painted plaster. . 31.2 × 23.2 × 8.4 cm.
Spoon Woman ( Femme cuillère ), 1926
(cast 1954) Bronze
143.8 × 51.4 × 21.6 cm
Not only did Giacometti sculpt, he was also a painter, printmaker and draftsman. Mainly working in Paris, he was associated with the Surrealist group of artists. Favourite Surrealists include: Salvador Dali, Rene MagrItte, Paul Delvaux, Man Ray, Hans Arp, Joan Miro, Frida Kahlo, Eileen Agar, Yves Tanguy, JH Moesman and Giorgio de Chirico.
Bibliography
ArtForum. ArtVerona 16# Italian System. 15-17. 10. 2021. Peter Lindbergh and Alberto Giacometti. Accessed 29th July, 2021.
Impressionist & Modern Art Jun 6, 2018. The Cat that Captivated Giacometti Sells for £12.6 Million. By Sothebys. https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-cat-that-captivated-giacometti-sells-for-12-6-million Accessed 29th July, 2021.
Vancouver Art Gallery. March 4, 2019. Alberto Giacometti: A Line through Time. June 16, 2019 – september 29, 2019. https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/alberto-giacometti-a-line-through-time. Accessed 29th July, 2021.
i-d. CULTURE. Par Bojana Kozarevic. 31 Mai 2017. choc des titans : quand peter lindbergh redonne vie aux sculptures de giacometti. https://i-d.vice.com/fr/article/43wejn/choc-des-titans-quand-peter-lindbergh-redonne-vie-aux-sculptures-de-giacometti Accessed 29th July 2021.